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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Zimbabwe rivals to sign agreement | Zimbabwe rivals to sign agreement |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| An historic power-sharing deal is due to be signed in Zimbabwe, aimed at ending a prolonged political crisis. | An historic power-sharing deal is due to be signed in Zimbabwe, aimed at ending a prolonged political crisis. |
| Leaks of last week's agreement suggest that Robert Mugabe will remain president and retain control of the army, but his powers will be reduced. | Leaks of last week's agreement suggest that Robert Mugabe will remain president and retain control of the army, but his powers will be reduced. |
| Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai will be the new PM with substantial responsibilities, including police. | Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai will be the new PM with substantial responsibilities, including police. |
| However, the proposed agreement remains fragile at this stage, says the BBC's Peter Biles in Zimbabwe. | However, the proposed agreement remains fragile at this stage, says the BBC's Peter Biles in Zimbabwe. |
| The deal opens the way for donors to restore funding to revive Zimbabwe's economy - the fastest-shrinking in the world. | |
| 'Brutalized' | 'Brutalized' |
| European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana says a decision on extending sanctions against Zimbabwean officials has been postponed. | |
| "The sanctions for the moment will not be taken today [Monday]. The decision will probably be taken in October," he said, reports Reuters news agency. | "The sanctions for the moment will not be taken today [Monday]. The decision will probably be taken in October," he said, reports Reuters news agency. |
| 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' views | 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' views |
| The power-sharing deal is expected to be signed at a ceremony in Zimbabwe's capital, Harare, attended by several African leaders. | The power-sharing deal is expected to be signed at a ceremony in Zimbabwe's capital, Harare, attended by several African leaders. |
| The leadership of both Mr Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF endorsed the deal over the weekend, local media report. | The leadership of both Mr Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF endorsed the deal over the weekend, local media report. |
| The MDC and another MDC faction will together have 16 seats, while President Mugabe's Zanu-PF will have the remaining 15, according to the leaks. | The MDC and another MDC faction will together have 16 seats, while President Mugabe's Zanu-PF will have the remaining 15, according to the leaks. |
| Last week, 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. | Last week, 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. |
| Some members have called it a climb-down, although others have said it is the best available. | Some members have called it a climb-down, although others have said it is the best available. |
| David Coltart, an MP from the smaller MDC faction, said on Friday that most MDC members who are due to become ministers "have at some stage in the last nine years been brutalized on the instructions of those they will now have to work with". | David Coltart, an MP from the smaller MDC faction, said on Friday that most MDC members who are due to become ministers "have at some stage in the last nine years been brutalized on the instructions of those they will now have to work with". |
| The MDC accuses the army and Zanu-PF of organising a campaign of violence against opposition activists to ensure victory in the June presidential run-off. | The MDC accuses the army and Zanu-PF of organising a campaign of violence against opposition activists to ensure victory in the June presidential run-off. |
| "Zimbabwe remains highly polarized and it will take statesmanship on all sides to make this work," he said in an e-mail to his supporters. | "Zimbabwe remains highly polarized and it will take statesmanship on all sides to make this work," he said in an e-mail to his supporters. |
| Mr Tsvangirai and President Mugabe have not commented on the agreement. | Mr Tsvangirai and President Mugabe have not commented on the agreement. |
| The BBC's Adam Mynott says the deal appears to give Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai roughly equal power. | The BBC's Adam Mynott says the deal appears to give Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai roughly equal power. |
| 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. |
| International donors have said they would resume financial aid for Zimbabwe's collapsing economy if the opposition MDC is given a genuine share of power. | International donors have said they would resume financial aid for Zimbabwe's collapsing economy if the opposition MDC is given a genuine share of power. |
| Mbeki's optimism | Mbeki's optimism |
| 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. | 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 last Thursday after four days of talks mediated by South African President Thabo Mbeki in Harare. | The breakthrough came last Thursday after four days of talks mediated by South African President Thabo Mbeki in Harare. |
| Mr Mbeki said the two sides had agreed to form an inclusive government. | Mr Mbeki said 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." |
| 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. |
| Are you in Zimbabwe? Do you believe the power sharing deal will end the country's political crisis? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. | Are you in Zimbabwe? Do you believe the power sharing deal will end the country's political crisis? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. |