Four Irish election observers leave Zimbabwe

Four Irish observers of the elections in Zimbabwe have left the country following the EU's decision to impose sanctions and withdraw its team of election monitors. They were among 26 observers from six EU states who left on flights for Johannesburg yesterday.

Their departure came as the United States announced it strongly supported the EU sanctions and was preparing a similar package of US prohibitions on travel by Zimbabwe's political leaders.

"We're moving rapidly toward the final implementation of that plan but I don't have a formal announcement," the State Department spokesman, Mr Richard Boucher, said.

The imposition of the EU's so-called "smart" sanctions on the government of Mr Robert Mugabe has drawn a mixed reaction. A government spokesman described the move as "economic terrorism" while regional neighbour South Africa said they were regrettable.

Even the opposition Movement for Democratic Change warned they could provoke a violent backlash from Mr Mugabe's government.

However, the move was welcomed by the anti-corruption group, Transparency International.

Two of the Irishmen, Mr Edward Horgan from Limerick and Mr Jimmy Somers from Dublin, were sent by APSO (the Agency for Personal Services Overseas) to monitor the elections. The had been waiting for accreditation since arriving on tourist visas over a week ago. The other two Irishmen, Mr Kieran O'Cuneen and Mr Tim Sheehy, formed part of the European Commission's contribution to the monitoring team. All four are experienced observers of elections in Africa and elsewhere.

South Africa said it would be sending more observers to join African teams already in Zimbabwe. The Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr Aziz Pahad, said Pretoria had been taken aback by the EU decision.

The 15 EU foreign ministers imposed the sanctions on Monday after hearing a report from Mr Pierre Schori, the head of the EU observer mission who was expelled by Zimbabwe on Saturday.

The EU sanctions include a visa ban and a freeze on the overseas assets of Mr Mugabe and 19 of his close associates, as well as an embargo on the supply of arms and equipment which could be used for internal repression in Zimbabwe.

Mr Mugabe's information minister, Mr Jonathan Moyo, accused the EU of hiding behind the cover of democracy to protect white minority interests in the former British colony.

Mr Brian Bako, the British and Irish representative of the MDC, said it was "far too late" to introduce sanctions. "The EU should have introduced them a long time ago," he told a meeting in Dublin on Monday night.

Mr Bako pointed out that the registration process for next month's elections was almost complete. He said a free and fair election was impossible now, but the MDC expected to win the poll anyway.