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Zimbabwe talks 'to move ahead' Zimbabwe talks 'to move ahead'
(about 1 hour later)
Zimbabwe's ruling party and opposition are close to agreeing the framework for talks on the country's political crisis, Kenya's prime minister says.Zimbabwe's ruling party and opposition are close to agreeing the framework for talks on the country's political crisis, Kenya's prime minister says.
PM Raila Odinga, who spoke to Zimbabwe's opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai on Saturday, said the framework would be signed this week.PM Raila Odinga, who spoke to Zimbabwe's opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai on Saturday, said the framework would be signed this week.
Mr Tsvangirai said he was ready to meet President Robert Mugabe if preliminary talks went well, Mr Odinga said.Mr Tsvangirai said he was ready to meet President Robert Mugabe if preliminary talks went well, Mr Odinga said.
The opposition has refused to recognise Mr Mugabe's re-election last month.The opposition has refused to recognise Mr Mugabe's re-election last month.
He won a run-off in which he was the only candidate, and which was marred by political violence.He won a run-off in which he was the only candidate, and which was marred by political violence.
Mbeki problemMbeki problem
The framework, 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 last week.The framework, 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 last week.
But Mr Tsvangirai did not sign, insisting that his demands had not yet been met.But Mr Tsvangirai did not sign, insisting that his demands had not yet been met.
His party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), had identified South Africa's Thabo Mbeki - the lead negotiator in the talks - as a key problem.His party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), had identified South Africa's Thabo Mbeki - the lead negotiator in the talks - as a key problem.
They accused him of being biased in favour of Mr Mugabe, and Mr Tsvangirai had asked for another envoy to join the talks.They accused him of being biased in favour of Mr Mugabe, and Mr Tsvangirai had asked for another envoy to join the talks.
It was later announced that a group of senior diplomats, drawn from the UN, African Union (AU) and the Southern African Development Community (Sadc), would help Mr Mbeki - a move welcomed by Mr Tsvangirai.It was later announced that a group of senior diplomats, drawn from the UN, African Union (AU) and the Southern African Development Community (Sadc), would help Mr Mbeki - a move welcomed by Mr Tsvangirai.
Mr Odinga told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show that he had "talked to Morgan Tsvangirai, and told him of the need to negotiate".Mr Odinga told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show that he had "talked to Morgan Tsvangirai, and told him of the need to negotiate".
Mr Tsvangarai's team was going to Pretoria for preliminary talks, and "depending on how they progress, he's willing to go to Pretoria for talks with Mugabe", he added.Mr Tsvangarai's team was going to Pretoria for preliminary talks, and "depending on how they progress, he's willing to go to Pretoria for talks with Mugabe", he added.