Mugabe ally says EU undermining Zimbabwe unity government

The visit by EU Aid and Development Commissioner Karel De Gucht and the Swedish EU presidency was the first since the EU began targeted sanctions in 2002 against members of Mugabe's government for alleged human rights violations.

The EU delegation said relations with Zimbabwe were entering a "new phase" but full cooperation hinged on the implementation of power-sharing and an end to rights abuses.

Zimbabwean Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa accused the EU delegation of siding with Mugabe rival Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC party during the weekend talks, state-controlled Herald newspaper reported.

"They seem to want to undermine the inclusive government. They speak as much as the MDC. They just swallow, hook, line and sinker what the MDC says," Chinamasa was quoted as saying.