Zimbabwe rift halts EU-Africa summit

Europe's relations with Africa suffered a severe blow yesterday when a summit between leaders of the two continents was shelved in a dispute over EU efforts to isolate Zimbabwe's elite.

The meeting of European and African heads of government had been scheduled to take place in Lisbon in April, but has been postponed indefinitely after diplomats failed to persuade President Robert Mugabe to stay away.

Southern African countries had defended Mr Mugabe's right to attend and threatened a boycott if he was not invited. But Tony Blair and several EU leaders made clear that they would not share a platform with the Zimbabwean leader.

European sanctions against Zimbabwe have become highly sensitive since France invited Mr Mugabe to a Franco- African summit in Paris next week. On Wednesday, EU ambassadors agreed to renew for another year the visa ban, asset freeze and arms embargo against more than 70 members of the Zimbabwean government and their associates, which would have expired next week. In return for French agreement, the UK and other states withdrew their opposition to Mr Mugabe's visit to Paris.

Meanwhile it was revealed yesterday that a French aviation company is poised to help rescue Zimbabwe's beleaguered national airline. ATR is in talks to lease three or more aircraft to Air Zimbabwe. The airline is heading for collapse amid deepening economic woes and acute shortages of hard currency.

The airline has a reputation for unreliability after its planes were commandeered by Mr Mugabe and his wife for shopping and business trips abroad. A spokesman for ATR said: "There are discussions going on but no firm order." He said there was no question of any involvement or subsidy from the French government.