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Mbeki set for key Zimbabwe talks Mbeki hosts key talks on Zimbabwe
(about 12 hours later)
South African President Thabo Mbeki is set to meet African Union chief Jean Ping in the latest bid to resolve Zimbabwe's political crisis. South African President Thabo Mbeki is holding talks with African Union chief Jean Ping in the latest bid to resolve Zimbabwe's political crisis.
The pair are expected to discuss ways of brokering a power-sharing agreement between President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai.The pair are expected to discuss ways of brokering a power-sharing agreement between President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai.
Mr Tsvangirai is reportedly waiting to see what the talks yield before agreeing to deal with Mr Mugabe. Mr Tsvangirai insists that violence must stop before agreeing to talks.
Zimbabwe's leaders are under increasing pressure to reach an agreement. Mr Mbeki, the lead mediator on Zimbabwe, is also meeting a senior UN envoy and a senior Angolan official.
A memorandum of understanding setting out the conditions for talks on a possible power-sharing agreement was expected to be signed this week. Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos, the current chair of the southern African security body, has been a close ally of Mr Mugabe but recently urged him to halt the violence against Mr Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change.
His deputy foreign minister George Chikoti is meeting Mr Mbeki, along with Haile Menkerios, the UN General Secretary's Special Representative.
PRECONDITIONS FOR TALKS MDC: End to political violenceRelease of supportersResumption of aidPermanent AU envoySwearing in of MPs Zanu-PF: Mugabe recognised as presidentPRECONDITIONS FOR TALKS MDC: End to political violenceRelease of supportersResumption of aidPermanent AU envoySwearing in of MPs Zanu-PF: Mugabe recognised as president
Zimbabwe's leaders are under increasing pressure to agree to share power.
Mr Tsvangirai is reportedly waiting to see what the talks in South Africa yield before agreeing to deal with Mr Mugabe.
A memorandum of understanding setting out the conditions for talks on a possible power-sharing agreement was expected to be signed this week.
But Mr Tsvangirai has not yet signed it.But Mr Tsvangirai has not yet signed it.
His party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), has set several conditions for talks, including the end of government-backed violence it says has killed 120 of its supporters. The MDC has set several conditions for talks, including the end of government-backed violence it says has killed 120 of its supporters.
It also wants Mr Tsvangirai's victory in the first round of the presidential vote on 29 March to be officially accepted.It also wants Mr Tsvangirai's victory in the first round of the presidential vote on 29 March to be officially accepted.
MDC spokesman Nqobizita Mlilo said the party's demands had not yet been met.MDC spokesman Nqobizita Mlilo said the party's demands had not yet been met.
"We want to see the outcome of the meeting between Mr Ping and President Mbeki... and then we will take it from there," he said on Thursday."We want to see the outcome of the meeting between Mr Ping and President Mbeki... and then we will take it from there," he said on Thursday.
Mr Mbeki was appointed by regional grouping the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) to mediate in Zimbabwe's political and economic crisis last year.Mr Mbeki was appointed by regional grouping the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) to mediate in Zimbabwe's political and economic crisis last year.
But critics say his discreet diplomatic approach has favoured Mr Mugabe.But critics say his discreet diplomatic approach has favoured Mr Mugabe.
It is thought his talks with Mr Ping in Pretoria could result in an African Union envoy being appointed to assist in the mediation efforts.It is thought his talks with Mr Ping in Pretoria could result in an African Union envoy being appointed to assist in the mediation efforts.