The European Union has reacted positively about this weekend's talks with Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe. He earlier said the meeting with the EU delegation, led by Development Commissioner Karel de Gucht, had gone well.

It is the first time for seven years that senior EU officials have visited Zimbabwe. The talks aim to normalise links between Harare and the EU, which imposed sanctions on Mr Mugabe's government in 2002. The president is accused of electoral fraud in his recent re-election victory and of using violence against the opposition.

Mr De Gucht says progress has been made but that further talks on various problems are needed. The issue of whether or not the sanctions should be lifted has not yet been discussed.

The EU delegation is also meeting former opposition leader and current Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai. Zimbabwe says it needs nearly seven billion euros to repair its shattered economy.

photo: Robert Mugabe (flickr/Andrew Heavens)