The European Union's chief diplomat Javier
Solana on Sunday expressed sympathy for the decision of Zimbabwe's opposition not to take part in the second round of the country's presidential elections,
calling the vote a "parody."
The "systematic campaign of violence, interference and intimidation by the
Zimbabwean authorities" made clear the reasoning behind the opposition
move, Solana said in a statement from Brussels,
according to dpa.
"Under these conditions, the elections would have been a parody of
democracy that is unworthy of today's Africa," he added.
Solana also praised the African Union and the Southern African Development
Community (SADC) for "having attempted to bring Zimbabwe to reason."