More European Union election observers have arrived in Zimbabwe to monitor presidential elections next month, but a standoff continues over the head of the EU delegation.

A spokesman for the EU observer mission says so far 30 observers are in Zimbabwe, but the Zimbabwean government has yet to register any of them. The spokesman says the team is continuing preparations to send its observers around the country.

However, Zimbabwe's government says the head of the EU delegation, Pierre Schori of Sweden, is in the country only as a tourist. Zimbabwe says it will not accept observers from Sweden and five other EU countries that the Harare government accuses of bias.

Meanwhile, 50 election observers from South Africa have arrived in Zimbabwe, and the head of the delegation says credible elections can still be held, despite an upsurge in political violence.

Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe is facing opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai in the election March 9-10.

Some information for this report provided by AP.

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