This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/7552202.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Mbeki tries to seal Zimbabwe deal | Mbeki tries to seal Zimbabwe deal |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| South African President Thabo Mbeki is trying to secure a deal between his Zimbabwean counterpart, Robert Mugabe, and the opposition's Morgan Tsvangirai. | South African President Thabo Mbeki is trying to secure a deal between his Zimbabwean counterpart, Robert Mugabe, and the opposition's Morgan Tsvangirai. |
| Mr Mbeki hopes the rival leaders will agree on a power-sharing government. | |
| Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai are due to meet in a Harare hotel after more than a week of talks between their parties, reports say. | Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai are due to meet in a Harare hotel after more than a week of talks between their parties, reports say. |
| Reports in some South African papers say a deal is close, and that a final agreement could be reached shortly. | Reports in some South African papers say a deal is close, and that a final agreement could be reached shortly. |
| One widely touted solution is that Mr Mugabe may become ceremonial president with Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai being made executive prime minister. | One widely touted solution is that Mr Mugabe may become ceremonial president with Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai being made executive prime minister. |
| But there has been no official comment on these reports, apart from statements from all sides that the talks have been progressing well. | But there has been no official comment on these reports, apart from statements from all sides that the talks have been progressing well. |
| Mugabe's role | Mugabe's role |
| Mr Mbeki has been mediating negotiations between the two sides in neighbouring South Africa. | Mr Mbeki has been mediating negotiations between the two sides in neighbouring South Africa. |
| Zimbabwean government spokesman George Charamba described Mr Mbeki's visit to Harare as an "important milestone". | Zimbabwean government spokesman George Charamba described Mr Mbeki's visit to Harare as an "important milestone". |
| There has been a news blackout on the South Africa-mediated talks | There has been a news blackout on the South Africa-mediated talks |
| He said the South African president was "going to meet the principals, basically to update them on the progress so far and to consult on how to take the dialogue forward". | He said the South African president was "going to meet the principals, basically to update them on the progress so far and to consult on how to take the dialogue forward". |
| 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 over 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 over Mr Mugabe's exact role. |
| For the two men to achieve a power-sharing deal will be no easy matter, as they share nothing but a mutual loathing, says BBC Africa analyst, Martin Plaut. | For the two men to achieve a power-sharing deal will be no easy matter, as they share nothing but a mutual loathing, says BBC Africa analyst, Martin Plaut. |
| Make or break | Make or break |
| Assuming a deal can be achieved, the next question is how the senior figures in the country's security apparatus - the military and police - can be accommodated, our analyst adds. | Assuming a deal can be achieved, the next question is how the senior figures in the country's security apparatus - the military and police - can be accommodated, our analyst adds. |
| There were strong suggestions a deal was blocked earlier this year because their concerns had not been addressed. | There were strong suggestions a deal was blocked earlier this year because their concerns had not been addressed. |
| This time round it is proposed that there would be two deputy prime ministers:
|
| If this is acceptable to all sides, our analyst suggests, then other issues are seen as less important. | If this is acceptable to all sides, our analyst suggests, then other issues are seen as less important. |
| But Sunday's negotiations are seen as make or break, with diplomats warning that until everything is agreed, nothing is agreed, he adds. | But Sunday's negotiations are seen as make or break, with diplomats warning that until everything is agreed, nothing is agreed, he adds. |
| Summit threat | Summit threat |
| Mr Mbeki is under pressure to produce a solid outcome ahead of a mid-August summit of the Southern African Development Community (Sadc). | Mr Mbeki is under pressure to produce a solid outcome ahead of a mid-August summit of the Southern African Development Community (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 Botswana. | 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 Botswana. |
| 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. |