Announce election results soon, Zimbabwe 02/04/2008 00:00

The Dutch foreign minister calls on Zimbabwe to make election results public.

2 April 2008

AMSTERDAM - Dutch foreign minister Maxime Verhagen called on the Zimbabwean election committee to announce the election results as soon as possible, Dutch news wire ANP reported on Tuesday.

Maxime Verhagen issued a joint statement with France, Britain, Italy, Slovenia and Spain whose leaders were meeting in Paris on Monday.

In the declaration, the European countries said: "The future of the people of Zimbabwe depends on the credibility and transparency of the election process."

The European leaders also praised the Zimbabweans who decided to vote on Saturday despite the difficult circumstances.

"I get the impression the Zimbabweans have voted for change. The democratic forces are on the upper hand here," Verhagen said.

[Copyright dpa 2008]