EU should denounce Mugabe "power grab," Miliband says

EU should denounce Mugabe "power grab," Miliband says Luxembourg - The European Union should denounce attempts by Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe to destroy a power-sharing deal with arch-rival Morgan Tsvangirai, British Foreign Minister David Miliband said Monday.

"It is very important that a European signal goes out that we will play no part in supporting a power grab by the Mugabe regime," Miliband said in Luxembourg.

EU foreign ministers meeting in the grand duchy were due to issue a statement expressing "concern" at the lack of progress on the power-sharing deal, signed by Mugabe and Tsvangirai on September 15.

Miliband said such concern has become even more urgent now that Mugabe has moved to retain control of the key Ministry of Home Affairs.

"It is important (that) there is an international united response that says that the results of the elections need to be respected, and a power grab will not be respected," Miliband said. (dpa)