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Status Of EU Election Team in Zimbabwe Unclear VOA News 12 Feb 2002 23:08 UTC 
The European Union says it is awaiting official word from Zimbabwe about its reported refusal to accredit election observers from six EU nations. They are due in Zimbabwe to monitor next month's presidential election. On Monday, Zimbabwe's Foreign Minister Stan Mudenge said accreditation will not be granted to observers from Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Britain, Germany and the Netherlands.
Those countries have been outspoken critics of Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe because of his crackdown on the political opposition and journalists. The head of the EU election monitoring mission is Pierre Schori, a Swede who is already in Zimbabwe to head a 150-member delegation.
The EU is threatening to impose sanctions unless EU observers are allowed to monitor the voting. EU officials say sanctions may be discussed as early as Wednesday.
Sanctions could include freezing the foreign assets of President Mugabe's family and close allies, and travel ban to Europe of top officials. Mr. Mugabe, who has ruled Zimbabwe since its independence in 1980, is facing stiff competition from Morgan Tsvangirai, of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change.
Meanwhile, the German news agency reports that Mr. Tsvangirai was briefly detained Tuesday at Harare international airport as he arrived from South Africa. The news agency said Mr. Mugabe's secret police searched Mr. Tsvangirai's bags and accused him of traveling on a false passport. An opposition spokesman denied the charges saying "this is a routine harassment" by the government.
Some information for this report provided by AP and DPA.
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