(LUANDA) - Angola called Wednesday on the European Union to immediately lift sanctions against the Zimbabwean leadership, warning they could derail negotiations aimed at resolving the country's political crisis.

"The EU should lift all sanctions on the leaders of Zimbabwe as soon as possible," Foreign Minister Joao Miranda told state-run RNA radio.

"There is no reason to justify the maintenance of these sanctions. All obstacles liable to endanger the progress of negotiations should be removed."

Miranda's comments come a day after EU foreign ministers widened sanctions against Zimbabwe despite a deal between President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai for talks on sharing power after disputed elections.

A travel ban and freeze of assets, which had already been in place against Mugabe and his inner circle since he allegedly rigged his 2002 election, will now apply to a total of 168 individuals as well as four companies.

Miranda, whose government is one of Mugabe's firmest allies in the Southern African Development Community (SADC), said it made no sense to line up new sanctions at a time when Zimbabwe's ruling party and opposition were talking.

"This dialogue is for real," he added.

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