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Mbeki tries to seal Zimbabwe deal | Mbeki tries to seal Zimbabwe deal |
(30 minutes later) | |
Talks are under way in Zimbabwe to try to finalise a power-sharing deal between President Robert Mugabe and the opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai. | |
South African President Thabo Mbeki is acting as mediating at the talks, which are taking place in a Harare hotel. | |
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. |
Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai are due to meet after more than a week of talks between their parties, reports say. | |
One widely touted solution is that Mr Mugabe, the Zanu-PF leader, may become ceremonial president while Mr Tsvangirai is 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. |
Mr Tsvangirai, leader of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, arrived at the hotel first, but left before Mr Mugabe went into the discussions. | |
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:
| 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. |