(BRUSSELS) - The European Commission on Thursday called for the immediate publication of Zimbabwe's presidential election results, saying further delay would be "unacceptable."

"Clearly the publication of the results is needed and is needed now," John Clancy, a spokesman for the EU's executive arm, told reporters in Brussels.

"Further delays are unacceptable and will just be considered as stalling the democratic process," he asserted.

"The European Commission along with the rest of the international community continues to watch and wait for action."

The comments came after British Prime Minister Gordon Brown delivered a stinging attack on the authorities in Zimbabwe for holding up the results of a presidential election last month.

Brown told the UN Security Council Wednesday that "no one thinks" that President Robert Mugabe won last month's presidential election in Zimbabwe.

Also Wednesday, United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon warned that "the credibility of the democratic process in Africa could be at stake."

"The UN secretary general's comments, along with those of Prime Minister Gordon Brown reflect the concerns of the international community," said Clancy.

"The publication of the results in Zimbabwe are in the interest of the Zimbabween people, who want democracy and simply better living conditions," he added.

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said the absolute minimum was to publish the results of the March 29 election.

"We are trying to convince all the partners and most of all Zimbabwe's neighbours, that the absolute minimum would be to publish the results of the election," he told the Council of Europe's parliamentary assembly in Strasbourg.

Pressure needed to be applied to Mugabe, he said, adding that he had been in touch with many African leaders to try to get them to work together on the issue.

Zimbabwe's government on Thursday accused opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai of being engaged in treason by plotting with former colonial power Britain to bring about regime change.

Tsvangirai insists he beat President Robert Mugabe at the ballot box on March 29 and that there is no need for a run-off second round vote.

Mugabe's government has tried to resist efforts to internationalise the post-polls crisis, with the president declining to attend a summit of regional leaders in neighbouring Zambia last weekend devoted to Zimbabwe.

The EU's Slovenian presidency on Wednesday expressed "deep concern" at the increasing violence and deteriorating human rights situation in Zimbabwe, as the nation awaits its presidential election results.

The European Union "reiterates its concern at the prolonged and unexplained delay in releasing the Presidential results which is undermining the credibility of the process," the EU presidency said.

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