"We all applaud the courage of the Zimbabwean people," Annan told The Observer. "They turned out en masse to express their will at the first election and we have to make sure that the Zimbabwean government understands that the will of the people has to be enforced."

Annan, who heads the Africa Progress Panel, is involved in negotiations in Kenya between President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raile Odinga. He said the progress in Kenya in bringing the two sides together makes him believe there is hope in Zimbabwe.

Talks between the Zanu-PF Party, President Robert Mugabe's political group, and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change headed by Morgan Tsvangirai broke down Thursday.

Annan said the rest of the world should not judge all of Africa by the June election in Zimbabwe.