EU close to imposing sanctions on Zimbabwe

Risking a rift between Europe and Africa, EU foreign ministers considered imposing sanctions on Zimbabwe today after President Mugabe expelled their senior election monitor.

Zimbabwe forced out Pierre Schori, who was to head a 150 member EU team, setting up a showdown with the 15 nation bloc that threatens to further isolate the southern African country.

Schori was to brief the EU foreign ministers in Brussels but said a decision to impose a slew of sanctions on Mugabe and his ministers would be ‘‘very difficult.’’

‘‘It looks grim but I would not prejudge anything,’’ he said. ‘‘The thing is to have observers there so people can vote securely.’’

EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said: ‘‘I think it is very likely that sanctions will be adopted after the latest news we had.’’

Sanctions under discussion included cutting off development aid, banning Mugabe and his Cabinet ministers from entering the EU and freezing their assets here. The EU also was considering pulling out the 30 observers already in Zimbabwe.

Schori was expelled after Mugabe’s government refused to recognise his credentials as head of the EU mission to observe the March 9-10 presidential elections.

Zimbabwe has said it will not accept observers from EU members Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Britain or the Netherlands. It accuses these nations of favouring his opposition.

Mugabe, aged 77, is fighting for his political survival, and has imposed various restrictions on journalists and opposition parties to ensure victory.

EU foreign ministers, aware sanctions may sour relations with other African nations, are nevertheless keen to send Mugabe a message his behaviour is unacceptable.

Other African nations, notably South Africa, have been reluctant to impose sanctions.

The EU put its sanctions threat on hold this month after Mugabe agreed to allow in the observer team. With Schori’s expulsion, however, the EU is revisiting the sanctions debate.

Zimbabwe has been wracked by political violence for the past two years that opposition supporters, human rights activists and many international officials blame on the ruling party.