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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Diplomats aid Mbeki with Zimbabwe | Diplomats aid Mbeki with Zimbabwe |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| A group of senior diplomats are to help South African President Thabo Mbeki in his efforts to solve Zimbabwe's political crisis. | A group of senior diplomats are to help South African President Thabo Mbeki in his efforts to solve Zimbabwe's political crisis. |
| Envoys will be drawn from the UN, African Union (AU) and the Southern African Development Community (Sadc). | Envoys will be drawn from the UN, African Union (AU) and the Southern African Development Community (Sadc). |
| The move was welcomed by Zimbabwe's opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, who has been critical of Mr Mbeki. | The move was welcomed by Zimbabwe's opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, who has been critical of Mr Mbeki. |
| Mr Tsvangirai is currently considering entering power-sharing talks with President Robert Mugabe. | Mr Tsvangirai is currently considering entering power-sharing talks with President Robert Mugabe. |
| Sydney Mufamadi, a close aide of Mr Mbeki, announced the creation of a "reference group" consisting of AU head Jean Ping, the UN's Zimbabwe envoy Haile Menkerios, and Sadc official George Chikoti. | Sydney Mufamadi, a close aide of Mr Mbeki, announced the creation of a "reference group" consisting of AU head Jean Ping, the UN's Zimbabwe envoy Haile Menkerios, and Sadc official George Chikoti. |
| PRECONDITIONS FOR TALKS MDC: End to political violenceRelease of supportersResumption of aidPermanent AU envoySwearing in of MPs Zanu-PF: Mugabe recognised as president | |
| Mr Mufamadi said the South African president had proposed the reference group during talks with the three envoys in Pretoria on Friday. | |
| "[The group] will get briefings on a regular basis," he said. | "[The group] will get briefings on a regular basis," he said. |
| "If a member of the reference group... wants to make a strategic input, they are welcome." | "If a member of the reference group... wants to make a strategic input, they are welcome." |
| But analysts say Mr Mbeki is keen to remain the main mediator in the talks. | But analysts say Mr Mbeki is keen to remain the main mediator in the talks. |
| In a statement, Mr Tsvangirai welcomed the "appointment of a reference group of eminent Africans who will work with President Mbeki and the main parties in Zimbabwe to find a peaceful negotiated solution to the Zimbabwean crisis". | In a statement, Mr Tsvangirai welcomed the "appointment of a reference group of eminent Africans who will work with President Mbeki and the main parties in Zimbabwe to find a peaceful negotiated solution to the Zimbabwean crisis". |
| Accusations | Accusations |
| A memorandum of understanding setting out the conditions for talks on a possible power-sharing agreement was expected to be signed by Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai this week. | A memorandum of understanding setting out the conditions for talks on a possible power-sharing agreement was expected to be signed by Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai this week. |
| But Mr Tsvangirai did not sign it, insisting that his demands had not yet been met. | But Mr Tsvangirai did not sign it, insisting that his demands had not yet been met. |
| His party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), had identified Mr Mbeki - the lead negotiator in the talks - as a key problem. | His party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), had identified Mr Mbeki - the lead negotiator in the talks - as a key problem. |
| They accused him of being biased towards Mr Mugabe, and Mr Tsvangirai had asked for another envoy to join the talks alongside Mr Mbeki. | They accused him of being biased towards Mr Mugabe, and Mr Tsvangirai had asked for another envoy to join the talks alongside Mr Mbeki. |
| The MDC has set several other conditions for talks, including the end of government-backed violence it says has killed 120 of its supporters. | The MDC has set several other 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. |
| Mr Mbeki was appointed in 2007 by Sadc, a regional grouping, to mediate in Zimbabwe's political and economic crisis. | Mr Mbeki was appointed in 2007 by Sadc, a regional grouping, to mediate in Zimbabwe's political and economic crisis. |