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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Mbeki heads to Zimbabwe for talks | Mbeki heads to Zimbabwe for talks |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| South African President Thabo Mbeki is due in Harare for talks with his Zimbabwean counterpart Robert Mugabe and the opposition's Morgan Tsvangirai. | |
| Mr Mbeki has been mediating between the two sides which have been holding talks in South Africa for more than a week. | Mr Mbeki has been mediating between the two sides which have been holding talks in South Africa for more than a week. |
| Despite a news blackout imposed on the discussions, reports suggest a power-sharing deal may be close. | Despite a news blackout imposed on the discussions, reports suggest a power-sharing deal may be close. |
| Mr Mugabe won a run-off in June after Mr Tsvangirai pulled out of the race alleging violence against his backers. | Mr Mugabe won a run-off in June after Mr Tsvangirai pulled out of the race alleging violence against his backers. |
| South African mediators say that talks are aimed at creating some form of coalition but there is disagreement over who would lead a unity government and Mr Mugabe's exact role. | South African mediators say that talks are aimed at creating some form of coalition but there is disagreement over who would lead a unity government and Mr Mugabe's exact role. |
| Mr Mbeki is expected to return to South Africa on Sunday afternoon. | Mr Mbeki is expected to return to South Africa on Sunday afternoon. |
| Summit threat | Summit threat |
| South Africa's media report that the power-sharing deal would see Mr Mugabe retaining the presidency and Mr Tsvangirai becoming prime minister with executive powers. | South Africa's media report that the power-sharing deal would see Mr Mugabe retaining the presidency and Mr Tsvangirai becoming prime minister with executive powers. |
| However, there has been no official comment on these reports, apart from statements from all sides that the talks have been progressing well. | However, there has been no official comment on these reports, apart from statements from all sides that the talks have been progressing well. |
| Mr Mbeki is under pressure to produce a solid outcome ahead of a mid-August summit of the South African Development Community, or Sadc. | Mr Mbeki is under pressure to produce a solid outcome ahead of a mid-August summit of the South African Development Community, or Sadc. |
| Hundreds of thousands of Zimbabweans have fled the country's worsening political and economic situation, many crossing over the borders into neighbouring states of South Africa, Zambia and Bostwana. | Hundreds of thousands of Zimbabweans have fled the country's worsening political and economic situation, many crossing over the borders into neighbouring states of South Africa, Zambia and Bostwana. |
| Botswana's foreign minister suggested on Friday that Mr Mugabe should be barred from the Sadc summit. | Botswana's foreign minister suggested on Friday that Mr Mugabe should be barred from the Sadc summit. |
| "The legal process of producing a government in Zimbabwe has failed [...] those who claim to represent a government in Zimbabwe [...] should be excluded from attending Sadc and African Union meetings as their participation in these meetings would be equal to giving them unqualified legitimacy," Phandu Skelemani said. | "The legal process of producing a government in Zimbabwe has failed [...] those who claim to represent a government in Zimbabwe [...] should be excluded from attending Sadc and African Union meetings as their participation in these meetings would be equal to giving them unqualified legitimacy," Phandu Skelemani said. |