Johannesburg — A European Union (EU) official has dismissed Zimbabwe's parliamentary elections as "phoney" and as a "mockery".

The EU has promised to take unspecified action against Zimbabwe which it accuses of failing to abide by accepted electoral norms.

"As soon as these phoney elections have been held, I can commit myself to the fact that the issue of Zimbabwe will be on the Council's agenda when we next meet," said Nicholas Schmidt, Luxembourg's Deputy Foreign Minister.

Luxembourg holds the presidency of the EU which has already imposed "smart" sanctions on Zimbabwe. The EU said it was concerned that conditions surrounding the poll were deeply worrying and that the country's election proceedings have so far failed to conform to accepted norms.

The EU's concern over Thursday's poll have also been raised by human rights organisations, civic society groups and the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), Zimbabwe's main opposition party which threatens to unseat President Mugabe's Zanu PF from power.

They argue that the electoral environment in Zimbabwe is heavily lopsided in favour of the ruling party, a charge which has been dismissed by Mugabe's party as "propaganda" meant to tarnish the image of the government. Mugabe vilified the EU for its actions against his government saying the group was being influenced by Tony Blair, the British Prime Minister.

Blair is criticised by Mugabe and his inner circle for allegedly sympathising with the MDC and attempting to reverse the land reform programme. To illustrate his anti-Blair stance Mugabe has dubbed the poll an anti-Blair election.

In his whirlwind campaign tours of Zimbabwe's countryside and urban centres, Mugabe has constantly attacked Blair for causing the political and economic problems facing Zimbabwe.

"Mr Blair should be taught that every inch of Zimbabwe, including its fauna and flora, belongs to Zimbabweans," Mugabe told a rally last week. "This country is for blacks. It belongs to us."

The MDC has dismissed Mugabe's rhetoric as a sideshow distraction.

"It's not about Blair," Tsvangirai told a weekend rally. "It's about food and jobs for the youths. If Mugabe wants to stand against Blair, he must go to Britain."

Mugabe's hostility towards Blair worsened last year after the British Prime Minister told parliament that Britain was working with the opposition and civil society to "effect change in the regime" in Harare.

At his 81st birthday party last month Mugabe vowed that the parliamentary vote would "kill once and for all the machinations of that man in Number 10 Downing Street who for some reason thinks he has the divine power to rule Zimbabwe and Britain."