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EU backs call for postponement of Zimbabwe poll

Other News Materials 26 June 2008 19:04 (UTC +04:00)

The country which currently holds the European Union's rotating presidency, Slovenia, on Thursday backed calls for Friday's presidential election in Zimbabwe to be re-scheduled following the withdrawal of the opposition candidate, the dpa reported.

The presidency is "deeply concerned by the current electoral process in Zimbabwe," which "cannot credibly lead to a result that reflects the will of the Zimbabwean people," a statement released in Brussels said.

"Therefore the Presidency expresses its full support to the Southern African Development Community call for the postponement of the second round of the elections," the statement said.

On Sunday, opposition presidential challenger Morgan Tsvangirai pulled out of the race following a rising tide of violence from Mugabe supporters which observers said was state-sponsored.

The violence led to widespread international condemnation. Mugabe insisted that the poll would go ahead, but the EU and United States warned that they saw the election as no longer valid.

On Wednesday SADC leaders called for Mugabe to postpone the election, saying that a "cooling-off period" was needed.

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