The United Nations Security Council late Friday expressed its "deep regret" over the elections in Zimbabwe.

But the highest ranking panel in the international organization was not able to agree on declaring the highly controversial vote on Friday for illegal, the French ambassador to the UN, Jean Maurice Ripert, told reporters.

Ripert said the 15-member council, which apparently met behind closed doors, had instead "reaffirmed" its declaration from Monday, when it sent a "very clear message" to Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe that it would be impossible to hold free and fair elections on June 27.

"Today, the government of Zimbabwe chose to ignore this message and to steal democracy," Ripert said. "This election lost all legitimacy as for the power which will come from it."

He said the council had expressed "deep regret" that the elections had gone forward and agreed it would revisit the matter "in the coming days."

"We hope that the meeting of the African Union will be able to find a solution to this crisis," Ripert said. "If not, France in liaison with its partners in the European Union, is ready to discuss extra measures in the Security Council so that M. Mugabe listens to the voice of reason."

Britain had proposed a resolution that would have declared the result of Friday's vote as lacking "credibility and legitimacy." But South Africa, which has been reticent to use its power status in Africa to convince the leader of its neighbouring country to stop the killing and violence against his opponents, blocked the motion, western diplomats said.

Sapa-dpa

/hr