BERLIN - German Chancellor Angela Merkel has taken a tough stance against Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe.

She has condemned his re-election last week as illegitimate and vowed in an interview with The Associated Press that the European Union would seek "all possible sanctions" against the country's government and leader.

"We will take up the issue again within the EU, under the leadership of the French presidency," Merkel said.

"We will think up all possible sanctions and check to see what more we can do, such as travel bans" for members of Mugabe's regime.

The EU, which is calling for new elections, said Friday it was ready to consider "appropriate measures" against those responsible for violence in Zimbabwe, but did not elaborate.

The U.S. is also seeking international sanctions against Mugabe and his top aides.

In a wide-ranging interview this week in her vast office with sweeping views of the Reichstag parliament building, Merkel spoke of her priorities ahead of next week's summit of Group of Eight industrialized nations in Japan - and cited Zimbabwe as a key issue on the agenda.

She hinted that the G-8 may apply pressure on African leaders invited to the summit to take a more forceful position against Mugabe.

A gathering of African Union leaders in Egypt failed to yield a strong unified message over voting widely dismissed as a farce after opposition candidate Morgan Tsvangirai pulled out, citing violence and intimidation.

"We will speak to the African countries that are invited to the summit. And we will of course all voice our opinions about Zimbabwe," she said.

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