Robert Mugabe showed no expression as Merkle attacked his leadership Saturday during the opening session of a European Union summit with African leaders in Lisbon, The Times of London reported Sunday.

"We don't have the right to look away when human rights are trampled on," Merkle said. "Intimidation of those with different opinions and breaches of the independence of the press cannot be justified."

Merkle singled out Zimbabwe, Sudan, Belarus, and Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, as guilty of bad governance and human rights abuses, Britain's Telegraph reported Sunday.

In contrast, Thabo Mbeki, South Africa's president, made no specific reference to Zimbabwe during his speech. Summit insiders said Mbeki had to tread carefully because he is helping lay the ground rules for new elections in Zimbabwe, the Times reported.