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Zimbabwe Says No to EU Observer Team VOA News 12 Feb 2002 02:16 UTC 
The Swedish head of the European Union's observer mission for Zimbabwe's March presidential election is expected to seek clarification Tuesday of the government's refusal to accept his delegation of observers.
Zimbabwe Foreign Minister Stan Mudenge ruled out accreditation for the team, saying the observers from Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Britain, Germany and the Netherlands are not welcome. He says the government considers Swedish diplomat Pierre Schori, who arrived Sunday to lead the delegation, only a tourist.
An EU spokesman, Stefan Amer, says the two sides are working on the request for accreditation and a solution is expected soon.
The six countries represented by the delegation have been among the most outspoken critics of Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe and his crack down on political opposition and journalists ahead of the March elections. Mr. Mugabe faces stiff competition from Morgan Tsvangirai, of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change.
The European Union has threatened sanctions against Zimbabwe if its observers are not allowed to monitor the voting.
The decision not to accredit the Swedish-led EU team came on the heels of more political violence. Gasoline bombs were thrown at Zimbabwe's main independent newspaper and a printing house in the city of Bulawayo, 260 kilometers west of Harare.
The attack Monday morning caused only minor damage to the offices of The Daily News and to the nearby Daily Print, which puts out campaign material for Mr. Tsvangirai's party. There are no reports of injuries and police say they are investigating.
Some information for this report provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
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