AU calls for engagement with Zimbabwe

Foreign ministers from the African Union countries have gathered in Egypt. They have dismissed calls from the United States for possible sanctions against Zimbabwe. They say in order to solve the country's current political crisis, the international community should further engage Zimbabwe, not punish it.

President Robert Mugabe was the only candidate in Friday's run-off election in Zimbabwe, after opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai pulled out.

The US might introduce a UN resolution to pose sanctions against Zimbabwe.

But African foreign ministers say getting Mugabe and its opposition to talk will have better results than punitive measures.

Ali Triki, Libyan Secretary for African Unity, said, "After we listened to the foreign minister of Zimbabwe, the majority of countries believe that now we should not really discourage them; let us now ask them to form a national government."