Washington  - Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga called Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe an "embarrassment" to Africa and said international peacekeepers should be sent to the country to ensure free elections can be held.

Odinga's comments came while meeting with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice ahead of her plans to co-chair a UN Security Council session to discuss the human rights abuses in Zimbabwe.

Odinga, whose country was also embroiled in electoral turmoil earlier this year, said the June 27 runoff election between Mugabe and challenger Morgan Tsvangirai was a "sham."

Mugabe has been accused of rigging the March 29 presidential election to ensure a run-off even though Tsvangirai captured more votes in results that took weeks to release.

Tsvangirai and other officials from his Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party have since been been arrested and threatened on the campaign trail by forces loyal to Mugabe and his ZANU(PF) party.

"Zimbabwe remains an eyesore on the African continent," Odinga said. "This is an embarrassment to Africa because it makes a sham of the presidential elections."

The United States has accused Mugabe's government of intimidating political opponents and the public, and has protested the brief detentions of US and other Western diplomats in the country.

"Were very concerned about the elections and we're trying to support the efforts of regional organizations to ensure free and fair elections," Rice said, "but its very difficult when you have the kind of intimidation that is going on now in Zimbabwe." (dpa)