Sharm El-Sheikh (Egypt): African leaders are expected to have strong words with Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe in private following his "sham" election, the United States top envoy for Africa said today.

Despite the apparent soft stance of leaders at the African Union summit toward Mugabe, who won a one-man election on Friday, US Assistant Secretary of State for Africa Jendayi Frazer told journalists they were deeply concerned.

"I do believe that the tradition of an AU summit is to reserve their strongest criticism for closed door sessions, particularly at the head of state level," she told journalists in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.

"I would suggest not to take the soft words of the opening plenary as a reflection of the deep concern of the leaders here for the situation in Zimbabwe. I would expect them to have very, very strong words with him."

African Union observers have already condemned the election as undemocratic, intensifying pressure on Mugabe as he faces his peers after a vote much of the world has dismissed as a farce.

Frazer said the observers rejection of the poll, "suggests that the African Union must follow that lead because after all these observers were on the ground and saw the levels of violence and intimidation."

Mugabe arrived in Sharm a day after being sworn in, amid growing calls for the continent s leaders to act to resolve the crisis which some fear could destabilise southern Africa.

"The consultations taking place here are very important for the reputation of the African Union," Frazer said, adding that the result of the vote s first round in March, won by opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, was the basis for an eventual powersharing arrangement.

Source : PTI