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Details of Zimbabwe deal emerge Details of Zimbabwe deal emerge
(about 2 hours later)
Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe is to retain control of the army and chair cabinet meetings, according to leaks of Thursday's power-sharing deal.Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe is to retain control of the army and chair cabinet meetings, according to leaks of Thursday's power-sharing deal.
South African President Thabo Mbeki said Mr Mugabe had agreed to share power with Morgan Tsvangirai but said details would be released on Monday.South African President Thabo Mbeki said Mr Mugabe had agreed to share power with Morgan Tsvangirai but said details would be released on Monday.
Mr Tsvangirai will control the police force and chair a new council of ministers, the sources say.Mr Tsvangirai will control the police force and chair a new council of ministers, the sources say.
The deal followed seven weeks of talks and this year's election violence.The deal followed seven weeks of talks and this year's election violence.
Mr Mugabe has yet to comment on the agreement, brokered by South Africa's leader.Mr Mugabe has yet to comment on the agreement, brokered by South Africa's leader.
Compromise Fair division?
Donors have said they would resume financial aid for Zimbabwe's collapsing economy if Mr Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) is given a genuine share of power. BBC News is banned in Zimbabwe, but a BBC correspondent inside the country says MDC supporters are not rejoicing on the streets, nor are Zanu-PF backers protesting.
The European Union said it would "evaluate the situation" when EU foreign ministers meet on Monday. Instead a silent optimism prevails - and after so many false dawns, Zimbabwe is holding its breath, our correspondent says.
BBC world affairs correspondent Adam Mynott says the agreement splits power approximately equally between Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai.
REPORTED DEAL Robert Mugabe: PresidentHeads armed forcesChairs cabinetZanu-PF has 15 ministers Morgan Tsvangirai: Prime ministerChairs council of ministersControls police forceMDC has 16 ministers - 3 from smaller faction Muted reaction to Zimbabwe dealZimbabwean readers' viewsREPORTED DEAL Robert Mugabe: PresidentHeads armed forcesChairs cabinetZanu-PF has 15 ministers Morgan Tsvangirai: Prime ministerChairs council of ministersControls police forceMDC has 16 ministers - 3 from smaller faction Muted reaction to Zimbabwe dealZimbabwean readers' views
He says Mr Tsvangirai's MDC and another MDC faction will together have 16 seats in the cabinet, while Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF will have the remaining 15. International donors have said they would resume financial aid for Zimbabwe's collapsing economy if Mr Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) is given a genuine share of power.
Mr Mugabe will also control the armed forces, while Mr Tsvangirai will be in charge of the police. The EU said it would "evaluate the situation" at a foreign ministers' meeting on Monday.
BBC world affairs correspondent Adam Mynott says the agreement appears to give Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai roughly equal shares of power.
In cabinet, Mr Tsvangirai's MDC and another MDC faction will together have 16 seats, while Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF will have the remaining 15.
Mr Mugabe will control the armed forces, while Mr Tsvangirai will be in charge of the police.
Our correspondent says the devil will lie in the detail and in the ability of the two men and the power blocks under them to wield genuine authority.Our correspondent says the devil will lie in the detail and in the ability of the two men and the power blocks under them to wield genuine authority.
Mbeki hails deal
Work on finalising the agreement will continue over the weekend. Some opposition MDC voices have already called the deal a climb-down, although others have said it is the best available.Work on finalising the agreement will continue over the weekend. Some opposition MDC voices have already called the deal a climb-down, although others have said it is the best available.
There has been a muted reaction on the streets of Harare as people wait to see full details of the agreement.
Most people are desperate for an end to their economic misery.
"We just hope and pray that this is truly the end of our troubles," Dalton told the BBC from the capital.
MDC chairman and Zimbabwe's parliamentary speaker Lovemore Moyo told the BBC that although his party was pleased with the deal, it had been a compromise.MDC chairman and Zimbabwe's parliamentary speaker Lovemore Moyo told the BBC that although his party was pleased with the deal, it had been a compromise.
"We wanted a titular head of state with an executive prime minister but that did not happen. So what we got at the end of the day perhaps was probably nearly a sister-sister power-sharing, so I'm saying it's not exactly initially what we wanted."
'Landmine field'
Political activist Lovemore Madhuku told Reuters news agency that the MDC was obviously the junior partner in the new set-up.
Eldred Masunungure, a political science professor at the University of Zimbabwe, said it would not be easy for the two foes to work together.
Zimbabweans share views on dealZimbabweans share views on deal
"It's going to be like walking out of a landmine field while carrying a huge load," he told Reuters. "We wanted a titular head of state with an executive prime minister but that did not happen," he said.
"The deal will only survive on a lot of goodwill, commitment and strategic thinking by all the key players because it can easily collapse even on small things and misunderstandings," he said. "So what we got at the end of the day perhaps was probably nearly a sister-sister power-sharing, so I'm saying it's not exactly initially what we wanted."
Negotiations started at the end of July, but had stalled over the allocation of executive power between Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai, bitter rivals for a decade. Negotiations started at the end of July, but stalled over the allocation of executive power between Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai - bitter rivals for a decade.
The breakthrough came after the last four days of talks in the Zimbabwean capital, Harare.The breakthrough came after the last four days of talks in the Zimbabwean capital, Harare.
Mr Tsvangirai, the head of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, had demanded to become executive prime minister, thereby taking over some of the powers that Mr Mugabe has exercised for more than 28 years. Mr Tsvangirai was first to announce the breakthrough, telling reporters on Thursday simply: "We've got a deal."
On Thursday, Mr Tsvangirai was first to announce the breakthrough, telling reporters simply: "We've got a deal."
HAVE YOUR SAYThis deal will work if outsiders stop prescribing to Zimbabweans what is good or not good for themDzvinyangoma, Zimbabwe Send us your comments
Later, Mr Mbeki told a news conference the two sides had agreed to form an inclusive government.Later, Mr Mbeki told a news conference the two sides had agreed to form an inclusive government.
He said: "I am absolutely certain that the leadership of Zimbabwe is committed to implementing these agreements."He said: "I am absolutely certain that the leadership of Zimbabwe is committed to implementing these agreements."
The deal would be signed at a ceremony in Harare attended by African leaders, he said.The deal would be signed at a ceremony in Harare attended by African leaders, he said.
'African triumph' British concern
Zimbabwe's envoy to the UN, Boniface Chidyausiku, told the BBC that the deal was a "triumph for African diplomacy".Zimbabwe's envoy to the UN, Boniface Chidyausiku, told the BBC that the deal was a "triumph for African diplomacy".
The UN special representative on Zimbabwe, Haile Menkerios, said the announcement marked a way forward that all sides could live with.The UN special representative on Zimbabwe, Haile Menkerios, said the announcement marked a way forward that all sides could live with.
HAVE YOUR SAYThis deal will work if outsiders stop prescribing to Zimbabweans what is good or not good for themDzvinyangoma, Zimbabwe Send us your comments
Britain's Foreign Office said it was following the situation closely, adding that "our concern is the welfare of the Zimbabwean people".Britain's Foreign Office said it was following the situation closely, adding that "our concern is the welfare of the Zimbabwean people".
Zimbabwe has the fastest shrinking economy in the world with annual inflation of more than 11,000,000%.Zimbabwe has the fastest shrinking economy in the world with annual inflation of more than 11,000,000%.
Mr Mugabe, in power since independence from Britain in 1980, won a controversial presidential run-off election in June.Mr Mugabe, in power since independence from Britain in 1980, won a controversial presidential run-off election in June.
He ran unopposed after Mr Tsvangirai withdrew, claiming the MDC was the target of state-sponsored violence.He ran unopposed after Mr Tsvangirai withdrew, claiming the MDC was the target of state-sponsored violence.
In the first round of the presidential election in March, Mr Tsvangirai gained more votes than Mr Mugabe, but official results say he did not pass the 50% threshold for outright victory.In the first round of the presidential election in March, Mr Tsvangirai gained more votes than Mr Mugabe, but official results say he did not pass the 50% threshold for outright victory.