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/7553621.stm

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Zimbabwe crisis talks to resume Zimbabwe coalition talks resume
(about 3 hours later)
Power-sharing talks between Zimbabwe's governing Zanu-PF party and opposition officials are due to resume in the capital, Harare. Power-sharing talks between Zimbabwe's governing Zanu-PF party and opposition officials have resumed in Harare.
President Robert Mugabe said some 14 hours of talks had ended inconclusively in the early hours, but that he was "confident" a deal could be reached. The negotiations had broken up in the early hours of Monday morning with President Robert Mugabe saying he was "confident" a deal would be signed.
Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai declined to comment.
South African President Thabo Mbeki is leading the mediation, aimed at ending Zimbabwe's bitter election dispute.South African President Thabo Mbeki is leading the mediation, aimed at ending Zimbabwe's bitter election dispute.
The key issue is how much power Mr Mugabe will hold in any coalition government, and what role Mr Tsvangirai will take on. Earlier, Mr Mugabe warned opposition groups not to be "used by enemies", saying the country was not for sale.
It appears from reports that Mr Mugabe, the Zanu-PF leader, may become ceremonial president while Mr Tsvangirai, leader of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), becomes executive prime minister. Addressing hundreds of people on Heroes' Day, honouring those who died in the 1970s war against white minority rule, the president vowed that Zimbabwe would "never be a colony again".
On Monday morning, Mr Mugabe attended a ceremony to mark Zimbabwe's Heroes' Day, honouring those who died in the 1970s guerrilla war against white minority rule. "Let's not hand over the country to the enemy," he said. "If you are on the enemy's side or you are being used by enemies, stop it."
He told his supporters at the rally that "Zimbabwe is not for sale and Zimbabwe will never be a colony again" and warned they should not "hand over the country to the enemy". Mr Mugabe described the first day of talks on Sunday as "a long night negotiating on some little hurdles".
The president described Sunday night's talks as "a long night negotiating on some little hurdles". He also thanked Mr Mbeki, calling him a "very patient man".
Referring to Mr Mbeki, he said: "I thought I should raise my fist but he remained cool and said: 'Let us continue talking'." "We spent all night yesterday in discussions and some of the things that were holding back, at times I nearly raised my fist, but he remained cool and said: 'Let us continue talking'," Mr Mugabe added.
It appears Sunday's marathon session was brought to a close by disagreements over the make-up of the new cabinet, the BBC's Jonah Fisher reports from neighbouring South Africa.
Having won March's parliamentary election the opposition MDC want an allocation of ministries which closely mirrors that result, our correspondent says.
Ceremonial roleCeremonial role
The talks bring together Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai, as well as Arthur Mutambara, the leader of a smaller MDC faction. Sunday's marathon session appears to have been brought to a close by disagreements over the make-up of the new coalition government, the BBC's Jonah Fisher reports from neighbouring South Africa.
Mr Mbeki (left) is hoping to secure a power-sharing deal There are always sticking points in any dialogue, but we are confident we will overcome President Robert Mugabe
"We're not through yet, but we've taken a break," said President Mugabe, as he left the talks late at night. Having won March's parliamentary election, the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) wants an allocation of ministries which closely mirrors that result, our correspondent says.
Asked if sticking points remained, he said: "There are always sticking points in any dialogue, but we are confident we will overcome." The agreement being discussed would see Mr Mugabe remain ceremonial president with the MDC's leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, becoming executive prime minister, reports say.
Mr Mbeki has been in Harare since Saturday. Before that, he was mediating negotiations in neighbouring South Africa. Mr Tsvangirai would head a large cabinet divided evenly between their two parties, but with a smaller faction of the MDC led by Arthur Mutambara holding the balance of posts, it is thought.
The Harare talks started on Sunday morning with Mr Mbeki meeting all three politicians separately, before bringing them together, Mr Mutambara's spokesman said. The MDC said before the talks that while it would accept Mr Mugabe in a ceremonial role, if he was to retain significant powers it would reward him and the Zanu-PF for an alleged systematic campaign of violence against opposition supporters since the elections in March.
The US, EU and the UK have all said that a £1.9bn (£1bn) financial aid package, needed to stabilise Zimbabwe's economy and combat hyperinflation, will only be released if Mr Mugabe relinquished control.
Mr Tsvangirai pulled out of Zimbabwe's presidential run-off
Leaving on Sunday night President Mugabe was asked if sticking points remained. He said: "There are always sticking points in any dialogue, but we are confident we will overcome."
Mr Tsvangirai declined to comment on Sunday, but on Monday afternoon he said he hoped the discussions would soon be concluded.
South Africa's president has been in Harare since Saturday. Before that, he was mediating negotiations from South Africa.
Mr Mugabe won a run-off in June after Mr Tsvangirai pulled out of the race, citing a campaign of violence against his supporters.Mr Mugabe won a run-off in June after Mr Tsvangirai pulled out of the race, citing a campaign of violence against his supporters.
Mr Mbeki is under pressure to achieve a solid outcome ahead of a mid-August summit of the Southern African Development Community (Sadc). Mr Mbeki is under pressure to achieve a solid outcome ahead of next week's Southern African Development Community (Sadc) summit.
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 South Africa, Zambia and Botswana.