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Zimbabwe leaders agree talks pact Zimbabwe leaders agree talks pact
(about 6 hours later)
President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai have signed a deal outlining a framework for talks on Zimbabwe's political crisis.President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai have signed a deal outlining a framework for talks on Zimbabwe's political crisis.
The pair - who were filmed shaking hands at their meeting in the capital, Harare - have been locked in a dispute over this year's presidential polls. It says that talks on a power-sharing arrangement should be completed within two weeks of its signing.
It was their first meeting in a decade. Mr Tsvangirai described the pact as a "first tentative step". Discussions will focus on security, and the political and economic priorities of the new government.
South African President Thabo Mbeki helped broker the agreement. Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai have been locked in a bitter dispute over this year's presidential polls.
It calls for discussions on a new constitution, states a goal of forming an "inclusive government" and urges the prevention of political violence. Under the terms of the agreement, each party will be expected to do everything possible to stop all forms of political violence and refrain from making inflammatory statements.
The BBC's Jonah Fisher, in Johannesburg, says the pact envisages a final deal being signed within two weeks. The parties shall refrain from using abusive language that may incite hostility, political intolerance and ethnic hatred or undermine each other Memorandum of Understanding class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/21_07_08_zimbabwe_deal.pdf">Full text of the Memorandum of Understanding[39KB] class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7517431.stm">Zimbabwe opposition MPs in hiding class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7515823.stm">Zimbabwe issues Z$100bn note
The Parties shall refrain from using abusive language that may incite hostility, political intolerance and ethnic hatred or undermine each other Memorandum of Understanding class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/21_07_08_zimbabwe_deal.pdf">Full text of the Memorandum of Understanding[39KB] class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7517431.stm">Zimbabwe opposition MPs in hiding class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7515823.stm">Zimbabwe issues Z$100bn note The BBC's southern Africa correspondent Peter Biles, in Johannesburg, says the deal is a breakthrough, even if it is only a first step.
But, he adds, it is difficult to see such quick progress in resolving the issues at stake - and the document does not address the central issue of Mr Mugabe's future or go into the details of a possible power-sharing arrangement. He says Mr Mugabe seemed to be in conciliatory - and sometimes good-humoured - mood as he made the unprecedented move of appearing with his arch-rival in front of the media.
Mr Mugabe insists that he must be recognised as Zimbabwe's president - a position rejected by the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).Mr Mugabe insists that he must be recognised as Zimbabwe's president - a position rejected by the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).
Mr Tsvangirai, the MDC's leader, garnered more votes in the initial presidential poll in March, but election officials said there was no outright winner and called for a run-off. Mr Tsvangirai, the MDC's leader, garnered more votes in an initial presidential poll in March, but election officials said there was no outright winner and called for a run-off.
Mr Mugabe won the run-off - but he was the only candidate after Mr Tsvangirai withdrew, accusing the government of mounting a campaign of violence against his supporters.Mr Mugabe won the run-off - but he was the only candidate after Mr Tsvangirai withdrew, accusing the government of mounting a campaign of violence against his supporters.
First step 'Bitter words'
Mr Tsvangirai said that in signing the deal - an occasion he described as historic - he and Mr Mugabe were committing themselves to the "first tentative step towards searching for a solution to a country that is in crisis". The document was signed at a Harare hotel during the first meeting between Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai in a decade. The pair then shook hands.
Arthur Mutambara, who leads a breakaway faction of the MDC, also signed the agreement.
Morgan Tsvangirai speaks after signing the deal with Mr MugabeMorgan Tsvangirai speaks after signing the deal with Mr Mugabe
He went on: "We are committed to ensure that the process of negotiation becomes successful. Mr Tsvangirai said that in signing the deal - an occasion he described as historic - he and Mr Mugabe were committing themselves to the "first tentative step towards searching for a solution".
"We want to make sure that every Zimbabwean feels safe, we want to share a common prosperity for everyone and we want a better Zimbabwe." He said many "bitter words" had been exchanged, but all all parties must exercise tolerance and work together if they wanted progress.
Mr Tsvangirai acknowledged that many "bitter words" had been exchanged between the two sides but said they all must exercise tolerance and work together if they wanted progress. Mr Mugabe said the two sides had agreed that the country's constitution needed to be amended on various points.
Mr Mugabe said the two sides had agreed on Sunday on the need for the country's constitution to be amended on various points.
"We sit here in order for us to chart a new way, a new way of political interaction," he said."We sit here in order for us to chart a new way, a new way of political interaction," he said.
HAVE YOUR SAYThe first thing that should be done is the AU should recognise Mugabe opponent as the legitimate president. Take the first election when he gained over 50. Then put something credible in charge of the mediation.Richard Leeds, USASend us your comments HAVE YOUR SAYThe first thing that should be done is the AU should recognise Mugabe's opponent as the legitimate presidentRichard Leeds, USASend us your comments
He also praised Mr Mbeki for his mediation efforts, adding: "We shall be doing this as Zimbabweans, entirely as Zimbabweans with the help of South Africa." Mr Mugabe praised South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki, who helped broker the deal, but insisted that it would be Zimbabweans who resolved the crisis - without the influence of Europe or the US.
Mr Mbeki said: "All the Zimbabwean parties recognise the urgency of the matters they are discussing and all are committed to trying to complete this process as quickly as possible." He has previously accused Mr Tsvangirai of being a puppet of Western powers - particularly the UK, Zimbabwe's former colonial master.
The BBC's southern Africa correspondent Peter Biles, in Johannesburg, says Mr Mugabe seemed to be in conciliatory - and sometimes good-humoured - mood as he made the unprecedented move of appearing with his arch-rival in front of the media. A US state department spokesman said it supported any talks that would lead to a result reflecting the "will of the Zimbabwean people".
Mr Mugabe said the agreement was a serious matter for his Zanu-PF party, and that he hoped it reflected sincerity. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he welcomed the deal and urged all sides "to engage, in good faith, in serious talks that would lead to a lasting solution".
It was a breakthrough, our correspondent says, even if it was only a first step. Jean Ping, chairman of the African Union (AU), congratulated the parties on the deal and encouraged them to "build on this positive development".
Both sides have had to swallow some pride and make some concessions to reach this stage, he adds, once it became clear that the solution to Zimbabwe's political crisis would not come in a winner-takes-all scenario. New elections call
New elections The MDC has previously accused Mr Mbeki of being biased in favour of Mr Mugabe.
The opposition party has previously accused Mr Mbeki of being biased in favour of Mr Mugabe.
Robert Mugabe speaks about signing the agreementRobert Mugabe speaks about signing the agreement
The fact that the African Union (AU) and the United Nations joined the South African mediation efforts was crucial in persuading the MDC to agree to talk, analysts say. The fact that the AU and United Nations joined the South African mediation efforts was crucial in persuading the opposition party to agree to talks, analysts say.
Senior diplomats from the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) are also involved. Diplomats from the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) were also involved.
The MDC still has several conditions to be met before starting substantive talks with Mr Mugabe. The MDC has set out several conditions to be met before starting substantive talks with Mr Mugabe, including the complete cessation of violence and the release of all political prisoners.
Party spokesman George Sibotshiwe told the BBC that future dialogue would remain conditional on a complete cessation of violence and the release of all political prisoners. It wants some kind of "transitional authority" to organise new, internationally-monitored elections.
The MDC wants some kind of "transitional authority" to organise new, internationally-monitored elections. The MDC says at least 120 of its supporters have been killed, about 5,000 abducted and 200,000 forced from their homes since the first round of the elections, in a campaign of violence by pro-Mugabe militias and the army.
The party says at least 120 of its supporters have been killed, about 5,000 abducted and 200,000 forced from their homes since the first round of the elections, in a campaign of violence by pro-Mugabe militias and the army.
Cabinet ministers and military officials have denied the charges.Cabinet ministers and military officials have denied the charges.
The deal between Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai comes on the day that a new banknote was issued, for 100bn Zimbabwe dollars - the latest sign of the country's economic meltdown.
This is not quite enough to buy a loaf of bread and is worth less than US$1. The official inflation rate is 2.2m%.