WASHINGTON- President Barack Obama said on Tuesday he was "heartbroken" over the situation in Zimbabwe, and that President Robert Mugabe was not "serving his people well."

Obama told a forum of young African leaders at a White House gathering he is "heartbroken when I see what" is happening in Zimbabwe.

Mugabe "is an example of a leader who came in as a liberation fighter, and I'm just going to be very blunt: I do not see him serving his people well," said Obama.

"The human rights abuses, the violence that's been perpetrated against opposition leaders, I think is terrible," he said.

Relations between Harare and the West have been tense for 10 years since elections marred by violence and widespread allegations of human rights abuses by Mugabe's government.

Obama said that Zimbabwe Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, who came into government in a unity deal following the disputed 2008 presidential election, "has tried to work despite the fact that he himself has been beaten and imprisoned."

Tsvangirai has "tried to work to see if there's a gradual transition that might take place. But so far, the results have not been what we had hoped.

"I would love nothing more than to be able to open up greater diplomatic relationships and economic and commercial relationships with Zimbabwe, but in order to do so, we've got to see some signals that it will not simply entrench the same past abuses, but rather will move us in a new direction that will actually help the people," said Obama.

Zimbabwe "is a classic example of a country that should be the breadbasket for an entire region. It's a spectacular country," he added.

Mugabe -- Africa's oldest leader at 86 -- lashed out Sunday at the West for maintaining sanctions on Zimbabwe and meddling in its politics.

"They say 'remove so and so.' Of course they mean 'Mugabe must go before we can assist you," Mugabe said at burial of his sister.

"To hell with them. Hell, hell, hell with them whoever told them they are above the people of Zimbabwe that they decide what Zimbabwe should be and by who it should be ruled."

In February, the European Union renewed sanctions against Mugabe and his inner circle for another year, citing a lack of progress in implementing political and human rights reforms.