U.S. says "big question marks" over Zimbabwe poll

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States cast serious doubt on the fairness of Saturday's election in Zimbabwe, saying there were huge questions over how it would be conducted.

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack complained on Friday of problems in the run-up to the poll such as inaccurate voter rolls that included dead or nonexistent voters, an absence of independent observers and inadequate polling stations.

"There are a lot of big question marks hanging over this election in terms of the integrity of the electoral process," said McCormack.

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe faces the toughest challenge to his 28 year-rule after coming to power in 1980 when the country gained its independence from Britain. There are two other candidates running against Mugabe -- one a former finance minister.

Most international election observers have been banned from Zimbabwe, except for a team from the regional SADC grouping, which critics accuse of taking too soft a line with Mugabe.

The United States, Britain and many other countries have been strongly critical of Mugabe.

McCormack said the State Department was closely observing the election and 10 people from the U.S. Embassy in Zimbabwe would be deployed at various polling stations around the country to monitor voting.

Once the breadbasket of the region, Zimbabwe's economy is in ruins with runaway inflation and food, fuel and other shortages. Mugabe blames the crisis on Western sanctions while the United States and others say Mugabe's policies caused it.

The State Department's annual human rights report released earlier this month said 2007 was the worst ever for rights in Zimbabwe where Mugabe's government had stepped up its assault on dissenters.

(Reporting by Sue Pleming)