Oslo - Norway on Friday approved emergency funds to Zimbabwe totalling 40 million kroner (6.8 million dollars), Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Store said.

"While we are monitoring the political events in Zimbabwe, we should not forget the acute needs of the hard suffering people," Store said in a statement.

The Norwegian funds were to be channelled via the United Nations and humanitarian agencies, the foreign minister said.

Store said it was "crucial to ensure that new Prime Minister (Morgan) Tsvangirai gets international support for the acute humanitarian needs" in Zimbabwe.

Tsvangirai, leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), and President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF signed a power-sharing deal this week.

Zimbabwe's economy is in tatters, compounded by record-high inflation and there are shortages of food and other supplies.

"We have to see that the political violence ends," Store said, noting the need to restore freedom of press and assembly and that aid agencies get "free access" in order to reach the needy. (dpa)