Southern Africa tries to resolve Zimbabwe deadlock

Southern Africa tried today to resolve a deadlock between Zimbabwe and the European Union over the deployment of election observers.

President Mugabe’s government has refused to accept the Swedish head of the EU observer group and members from five other European countries it accuses of bias in favour of the opposition.

Pierre Schori, Sweden’s ambassador to the United Nations, who heads the 150 member EU observer team is in Harare but has been denied government accreditation.

Sam Motsoenyane, head of a group of 13 southern African nations scheduled to observe the poll, said the stand-off was discussed by regional leaders of the Southern African Development Community, which includes Zimbabwe.

‘‘Our country and countries of the SADC region are addressing that issue at the highest level,’’ he said.

Zimbabwe’s state-run Herald newspaper today described the EU as ‘‘a big bully with astonishing arrogance.’’

The EU has threatened sanctions against Zimbabwe, demanding free and fair elections and unhindered access by observers and international journalists.