Zimbabwe Elections ´A Travesty Of Democracy´

´In these conditions, the elections have become a travesty of democracy,´ the statement said.

Zimbabwe's elections have become a travesty of democracy and the withdrawal of leading opposition candidate Morgan Tsvangirai is understandable, the European Union's foreign policy chief said on Sunday.

"Javier Solana ... considers that the withdrawal of Mr. Morgan Tsvangirai ... is understandable, given the unacceptable systematic campaign of violence, obstruction and intimidation lead by the Zimbabwean authorities, which has continued for several weeks," Solana's office said in a statement.

"In these conditions, the elections have become a travesty of democracy. They are certainly not worthy of the African continent of today."

At a summit on Friday, European Union leaders threatened more sanctions against Zimbabwe after violence scarred the run-up to the country's June 27 presidential run-off.

Existing EU sanctions include an arms embargo, visa bans and freezing of assets on more than 100 officials including President Robert Mugabe.

They were initially triggered by Zimbabwe's land redistribution plan, under which white-owned farms were seized, and Mugabe's disputed 2002 re-election.

The rotating presidency of the EU, held by Slovenia, said it deplored the circumstances that led to Tsvangirai's withdrawal from the election and reiterated its "deep concern about the systematic campaign of state-sponsored violence..."

"For the resolution of the current crisis as well as for the future of Zimbabwe, it is of crucial importance that Zimbabweans have the possibility to exercise their fundamental democratic right to vote and freely express their political will," it said.

"The presidency underlines its concern about the possible effects of the Zimbabwe crisis on the stability of the region and calls on African countries and organizations, especially (the) African Union and Southern Africa Development Community, to engage with new determination in order to help resolving the current crisis."