Zimbabwe has revoked the visa of the EU's top election observer and could face sanctions as a result.
Zimbabwe has refused to recognise Mr Pierre Schori, Sweden's ambassador to the United Nations, as head of the international mission to monitor next month's presidential elections.
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Mr Robert Mugabe
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Sweden's foreign minister said if he is expelled, it will probably result in sanctions. She said remaining election observers would probably also be withdrawn.
Ms Anna Lindh said EU sanctions against Zimbabwe could include freezing the assets of President Mr Robert Mugabe and his 20 closest supporters.
The Zimbabwean government has officially accredited 26 European observers but refuses to recognise Mr Schori and has said it would not accredit other Swedish observers or representatives from Britain, Denmark, Finland, Germany and The Netherlands.
Mr Schori said he has 30 observers who would also have to leave but that he had put a decision on hold. According to Ms Lindh, the Zimbabwe government considers Mr Schori a tourist, with no official status, and accused him of making inappropriate political comments.
She said an expulsion of Mr Schori would create an extremely serious problems and would "prove that Zimbabwe does not want a free and fair election".
PA
