JOHANNESBURG, July 4 (Xinhua) -- Botswana's government urged its neighbors Friday not to recognize Robert Mugabe's re-election, reiterating calls for Zimbabwe to be suspended from a regional bloc.

    "As a country that practices democracy and the rule of law, Botswana does not ... recognize the outcome of the presidential run-off election, and would expect other SADC member states to do the same," the South African Press Association quoted Botswana Foreign Minister Phandu Sekelemani as saying.

    On Tuesday, Botswana called for Zimbabwe to be suspended from the African Union and Southern African Development Community (SADC)meetings.

    Sekelemani said violence ahead of the June 27 run-off election "was not conducive to the holding of a free and fair election," adding that unrest "resulted in the loss of lives, destruction of property and displacement of people from their homes," according to the report.

    "It is therefore Botswana's position that Zimbabwe not be allowed to participate in SADC meetings until such time that they demonstrate their commitment to strictly adhere to the organization 's principles," he said.

    Sekelemani's comments came as Mugabe arrived back home to a hero's welcome by his followers after an African Union summit in Egypt.

    Zimbabwe's opposition MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai received a leading number of votes, immediately followed by Mugabe, in the March 29 presidential election, but failed to win outright.

    Tsvangirai pulled out of the run-off just a few days before it was held, saying that was mainly because his supporters continued to be attacked by Mugabe's supporters.

    Mugabe was sworn in Sunday for a new presidential term, immediately after the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission declared that he was the winner of the de facto one-man race.

    Then he went to Egypt to attend the African Union summit, which adopted a resolution supporting the creation of a unity government in Zimbabwe through dialogue.

    The resolution encouraged both sides to live up to pledges to start dialogue to promote peace and stability.