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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Deal 'close' for Mugabe to leave | Deal 'close' for Mugabe to leave |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The outline of a deal has almost been reached for Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe to step down, opposition sources have told the BBC. | The outline of a deal has almost been reached for Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe to step down, opposition sources have told the BBC. |
| They say representatives of Mr Mugabe, military chiefs and the opposition have held meetings chaired by South Africa since Saturday's elections. | They say representatives of Mr Mugabe, military chiefs and the opposition have held meetings chaired by South Africa since Saturday's elections. |
| The sources say Mr Mugabe is to give an address to the nation but urge caution until the announcement has been made. | The sources say Mr Mugabe is to give an address to the nation but urge caution until the announcement has been made. |
| Zimbabwe and South Africa's governments denied any negotiations or a deal. | Zimbabwe and South Africa's governments denied any negotiations or a deal. |
| But the US embassy in Harare said President Mugabe was expected to address the people of Zimbabwe shortly. | But the US embassy in Harare said President Mugabe was expected to address the people of Zimbabwe shortly. |
| Western diplomats had been summoned to a meeting with the government, the embassy told the BBC. | Western diplomats had been summoned to a meeting with the government, the embassy told the BBC. |
| The opposition Movement for Democratic Change says it won Saturday's general elections, but results have been slow to emerge. | The opposition Movement for Democratic Change says it won Saturday's general elections, but results have been slow to emerge. |
| Under the proposed deal, MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai would be declared the winner of the presidential race after Mr Mugabe had stepped down. | Under the proposed deal, MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai would be declared the winner of the presidential race after Mr Mugabe had stepped down. |
| President Mugabe, 84, came to power 28 years ago at independence, but the economy has been in freefall in recent years. | President Mugabe, 84, came to power 28 years ago at independence, but the economy has been in freefall in recent years. |
| The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has not yet given any results in the presidential race, sparking MDC claims that the outcome was being fixed. | The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has not yet given any results in the presidential race, sparking MDC claims that the outcome was being fixed. |
| BBC correspondent Ian Pannell has spoken to three MDC sources who have claimed a deal had almost been reached. | BBC correspondent Ian Pannell has spoken to three MDC sources who have claimed a deal had almost been reached. |
| Under the deal, sources say, Mr Mugabe would publicly announce he is standing down. | Under the deal, sources say, Mr Mugabe would publicly announce he is standing down. |
| The sources claim talks brokered by South Africa have been going on in the Zimbabwean capital Harare for the last few days, our correspondent says, although Johannesburg denies involvement. | The sources claim talks brokered by South Africa have been going on in the Zimbabwean capital Harare for the last few days, our correspondent says, although Johannesburg denies involvement. |
| He cautions that it is in the opposition's interests to talk up the possibility of Mr Mugabe's exit and the claims are difficult to verify at the moment. | He cautions that it is in the opposition's interests to talk up the possibility of Mr Mugabe's exit and the claims are difficult to verify at the moment. |
| Bright Matonga, Zanu-PF's Deputy Information Minister, denied any talks were going on with the opposition. | Bright Matonga, Zanu-PF's Deputy Information Minister, denied any talks were going on with the opposition. |
| "There are no discussions, no negotiations, and President Mugabe will not be going on state television to announce anything because there's nothing to announce." | "There are no discussions, no negotiations, and President Mugabe will not be going on state television to announce anything because there's nothing to announce." |
| The sources say that Mr Tsvangirai's victory was so overwhelming that Mr Mugabe would have no chance of victory, even in a run-off. | The sources say that Mr Tsvangirai's victory was so overwhelming that Mr Mugabe would have no chance of victory, even in a run-off. |
| Earlier, there had been increasing speculation that a second round would be needed, as no candidate had passed the 50% threshold required for victory. | Earlier, there had been increasing speculation that a second round would be needed, as no candidate had passed the 50% threshold required for victory. |
| The MDC says that Mr Tsvangirai won 60% of the vote, against 30% for Mr Mugabe. | The MDC says that Mr Tsvangirai won 60% of the vote, against 30% for Mr Mugabe. |
| Parliamentary results released so far show that the MDC has 72 seats, including five for a breakaway faction of the party, against 68 for Zanu-PF, with 70 still to come. | |
| As he cast his vote on Saturday, Mr Mugabe said: | As he cast his vote on Saturday, Mr Mugabe said: |
| "If you lose an election and are rejected by the people, it is time to leave politics." | "If you lose an election and are rejected by the people, it is time to leave politics." |
| Neither Mr Mugabe nor Mr Tsvangirai have been seen in public since the election. | Neither Mr Mugabe nor Mr Tsvangirai have been seen in public since the election. |