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Zimbabwe crisis talks 'adjourned' Zimbabwe crisis talks 'adjourned'
(21 minutes later)
Talks to solve Zimbabwe's political crisis will be briefly adjourned but will resume in a few days, South African leader Thabo Mbeki has said. Talks to solve Zimbabwe's political crisis will be briefly adjourned, South African President Thabo Mbeki has said.
Mr Mbeki, South Africa's president, is lead mediator in the talks in Pretoria, and said they had made good progress. Mr Mbeki, who is lead mediator in the talks in Pretoria, said negotiators were returning to Harare to consult with their party leaders.
The adjournment would allow negotiators to return to Zimbabwe to consult with their party leaders, he added. He said talks between the ruling Zanu-PF and opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) had gone well.
Negotiations between the ruling Zanu-PF and opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) began last week. However, earlier reports said the talks were deadlocked over the allocation of key posts in any future government.
"They are adjourning for a number of days so that they could go back to Harare to consult with their principals and then come back," said Mr Mbeki."They are adjourning for a number of days so that they could go back to Harare to consult with their principals and then come back," said Mr Mbeki.
"It's going very well. In the memorandum of understanding they said they will try to conclude negotiations within two weeks. They are very determined to keep to that commitment," he added."It's going very well. In the memorandum of understanding they said they will try to conclude negotiations within two weeks. They are very determined to keep to that commitment," he added.
Earlier, MDC sources had said that the talks were deadlocked over the allocation of key posts in a future power-sharing administration. Power-sharing
But Mr Mbeki did not say there was any deadlock. On Monday, MDC sources had said that the talks were deadlocked over the allocation of key posts in a future power-sharing administration.
The BBC's Peter Biles, in South Africa, says that the media blackout surrounding the talks is creating some confusion amongst analysts. ZIMBABWE TALKS What MDC wants: Mugabe to step down"Transitional authority" to organise new elections What Zanu-PF wants: Mugabe to be accepted as presidentMDC to take a few minor ministriesInternational community to drop sanctions and help kick-start economy 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/7519506.stm">Bitter hope in Harare
They said an offer to make opposition leader Morgan Tvsangirai third vice-president was "insulting".
The BBC's Peter Biles in South Africa says that the media blackout surrounding the talks is creating some confusion amongst analysts.
Our correspondent says Mr Mbeki is trying to portray the adjournment as a minor interruption.Our correspondent says Mr Mbeki is trying to portray the adjournment as a minor interruption.
Talks began last week after a rare meeting between Robert Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai, who both claimed victory in elections held earlier this year.Talks began last week after a rare meeting between Robert Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai, who both claimed victory in elections held earlier this year.