(BRUSSELS) - The European Commission slammed Friday Zimbabwe's presidential election as a "sham" vote devoid of both validity and legitimacy.

"We are aware that a so-called election is taking place today," a Commission spokeswoman told reporters.

"Today's election is a sham. The election is hollow and its result will be equally hollow and meaningless," she said.

The unusually tough remarks came as Zimbabwe held a presidential runoff election amid opposition accusations that people were being intimidated to vote for veteran leader Robert Mugabe.

He was the only candidate left in the poll after opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, who won the first round in March, pulled out amid rising campaign violence.

"The European Commission, like the UN, does not consider this election legitimate or valid. The electoral process has been dominated by a systematic government-led campaign of violence and intimidation," the spokeswoman said.

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