Just a sea in between, but Europe and Africa are oceans apart

Only a slim strip of sea separates Europe and Africa but the world's biggest economic bloc and its poor neighbor seem to be oceans apart over how to improve human rights and build trade ties.

A weekend summit in Lisbon brought together 70 European and African heads of state, but despite lofty proclamations of the "Spirit of Lisbon" and a post-colonial "partnership of equals", the unwieldy conclave showed little meeting of minds.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel scolded the Africans over the situation in Zimbabwe, where the West accuses President Robert Mugabe of crushing opponents and wrecking the economy.