Military

DATE=02/16/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=ZIMBABWE/E-U (S)

NUMBER=2-286535

BYLINE=MARTIN RUSHMERE

DATELINE=HARARE

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: According to the European Union office in Harare, the Zimbabwe government has abruptly withdrawn a visa for Pierre Schori, leader of the E-U observer mission for the March presidential election. Martin Rushmere has this report from Harare.

TEXT: Mr. Schori was told by immigration department officials on Saturday that he has violated the terms of his visa. The E-U office says he has been ordered to leave Zimbabwe by midnight Saturday. He was originally given a two-week visitor's visa which still had one week to go.

Since his arrival, the Zimbabwe government has refused to give permission to Mr. Schori to observe the elections. He is from Sweden, one of six countries banned by President Robert Mugabe from watching the March 9 and 10 poll.

In the week that Mr. Schori has been in Zimbabwe, government officials have been quoted in state-controlled newspapers as criticizing him for making political statements while he was allowed in the country only as a tourist.

Diplomats in Harare say that 30 European observers who have been accredited for the election will remain in Zimbabwe. However, their status could change drastically if Brussels goes ahead with its threat to impose sanctions on Mr. Mugabe and his advisors if campaigning for the elections and the elections themselves are not free and fair. (SIGNED)

NEB/MR/KBK