An African Union summit has been divided on how to deal with the re-election of President Robert Mugabe.

Even though the weekend poll has been condemned by world leaders, AU delegates have been divided between those who want Mugabe to step aside and others reluctant to publicly censure the veteran leader.

Sierra Leone President Ernest Bai Koroma, the member most critical of Mugabe told BBC radio: 'The people of Zimbabwe have been denied their democratic rights. We should, in no uncertain terms, condemn what has happened.'

Koroma said the AU should insist Mugabe engages with opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai to discuss a transitional government and fresh elections.

Mugabe has already rejected the idea of a Kenya-style power-sharing solution, which was floated by several summit leaders his week.

Mugabe threatened before the summit to point at African leaders who themselves were in power undemocratically.