President Robert Mugabe addresses supporters at Harare Airport, 04 Jul 2008

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe says the opposition must accept himas the country's leader if it wants to hold talks on ending Zimbabwe'spolitical crisis.

Mr. Mugabe spoke at Harare airport Fridayafter returning from a summit of African leaders who called forZimbabwe to form a national unity government following Mr. Mugabe'scontroversial re-election last week.

Mr. Mugabe Friday said he isopen to dialogue but that the opposition Movement for Democratic Change(MDC) must recognize him as president.

The longtime Zimbabwean leader was greeted by thousands of his supporters at the airport.

Oppositionleader Morgan Tsvangirai pulled out of the June 27 presidential runbecause of what he called systematic violence against his supporters. He told VOA Studio 7 Zimbabwe this week that he will not enter anytalks with the government unless the violence stops.

The MDCsays militants of the ruling ZANU-PF party have killed close to 90 ofits supporters in the days before, during, and after the runoff. Mr.Mugabe and his allies deny the claims, and say the MDC has carried outattacks against ZANU-PF members.

The European Union Friday calledfor a new election in Zimbabwe as soon as possible, saying it cannotaccept the June 27 runoff results.

Botswana Friday repeated acall for the Southern African Development Community not to recognizeMr. Mugabe's re-election. But most other African governments andleaders have declined to directly confront the 84-year-old president.  

Mr.Mugabe is still widely respected in Africa as a liberation hero for hisrole in Zimbabwe's war for independence from Britain. He has ruledZimbabwe since it became independent in 1980.

Critics blame himfor Zimbabwe's economic crisis, marked by an inflation rate that standsofficially at 160,000 percent but is believed to be much higher. Mr.Mugabe blames Western sanctions directed at members of his government.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.