EU decides on Zimbabwe sanctions

EU foreign ministers agreed this afternoon to go ahead with targeted sanctions against President Robert Mugabe's regime in Zimbabwe and pull its election observers out of the country. The 36 strong mission, including four Irish observers, is to be withdrawn immediately.

The decision follows Saturday's expulsion from Harare of the Swedish chief of the EU election mission to Zimbabwe, Pierre Schori.

The EU approved a package of so-called "smart sanctions" last month, including a European travel ban on Robert Mugabe and 19 other members of his administration, and a freeze on their EU assets.

The European representatives have become increasingly concerned about the country's upcoming election. President Mugabe said that observers from six EU countries most critical of his regime - Britain, Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, Finland and Denmark - would not be welcome in his country.

The EU foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, said in Brussels this morning that he expected the bloc's 15 foreign ministers to approve the sanctions. The Belgian Foreign Minister, Louis Michel, said that Europe would lose credibility if it failed to act.