OSLO (AFP) Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg announced Wednesday an increase in aid to Zimbabwe bringing this year's total to 200 million kroner (22.5 millions euros, dollars).

Stoltenberg made the announcement during a visit by Morgan Tsvangirai, Zimbabwe's longtime opposition leader turned prime minister in a unity government with arch-rival President Robert Mugabe, who has been in power for three decades.

"The aid will go partly to non-governmental organisations and partly to the United Nations" and the World Bank, Stoltenberg said at a press conference with Tsvangirai in Oslo.

"The main priority is basic health, primary education and transition aid," he said.

The Norwegian premier stressed that the international community would only substantially increase aid if Zimbabwe showed progress in democratic reforms.

Mugabe and rival Tsvangirai on February 11 formed a power-sharing government tasked with steering Zimbabwe back to stability after disputed elections last year further plunged the country into crisis.

Tsvangirai has been on an international tour seeking to raise funds to help Zimbabwe emerge from years of hyper-inflation and a breakdown in basic services that has forced millions of Zimbabweans to flee the country.

He met with US President Barack Obama in Washington who pledged 73 million dollars in aid, stressing however that it was to go directly to Zimbabweans and not the government given continued concerns about the Mugabe regime.

Germany meanwhile has promised 20 million euros through the World Bank.