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Zimbabwe rivals in historic pact Zimbabwe rivals in historic pact
(about 8 hours later)
Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe has signed a historic power-sharing deal with his long-time rival, opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai. Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe has signed a historic power-sharing deal with his long-time rival opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai.
The two smiled and shook hands at the ceremony in the capital, Harare, attended by African dignitaries.The two smiled and shook hands at the ceremony in the capital, Harare, attended by African dignitaries.
The signatories were introduced in the terms used in the agreement; Robert Mugabe as president, and Mr Tsvangirai as prime minister. Mr Tsvangirai said the agreement provided the best hope for Zimbabwe and called on President Mugabe to work together to implement the deal.
Details are still emerging of how exactly power will be shared. Mr Mugabe said he was committed to national unity and would do "his best".
Mr Mugabe, MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara - leader of a breakaway MDC faction - signed the agreement in front of some 3,000 invited guests in Zimbabwe's International Conference Centre. Mr Mugabe, Mr Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara - leader of a breakaway faction of Mr Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) - signed the agreement in front of some 3,000 invited guests in Harare's International Conference Centre.
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 href="/1/hi/world/africa/7612015.stm">Muted reaction to Zimbabwe deal class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7612296.stm">Zimbabwean readers' views I've signed this agreement because I believe it represents the best opportunity for us to build a peaceful and prosperous democratic Zimbabwe Morgan Tsvangirai href="/1/hi/world/africa/7616691.stm">Leaders proclaim new era class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7616604.stm">Speech highlights
To rapturous applause, the leaders shook hands after exchanging signed copies of the accord. The signatories were introduced in the terms used in the agreement - Mr Mugabe as president and Mr Tsvangirai as prime minister.
The new deputy prime minister, Mr Mutambara, said the compromise agreement was a victory for Zimbabwe. To rapturous applause, the leaders shook hands after exchanging signed copies.
"This is a victory of Zimbabweans saying to each other there is more that brings us together than that which divides us," he said. Mr Mugabe accused the former colonial power - the UK - of meddling in his country's affairs by calling for a "regime change" and by imposing sanctions.
The BBC's George Alagiah in Harare says that the mood among ordinary Zimbabweans is one of relief rather than outright jubilation; people just want to get on with their lives. The deal calls on the UK to pay compensation to the white farmers who have lost their land under President Mugabe's controversial land reform process.
Negotiations started at the end of July, but stalled over the allocation of executive power between Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai. But he received loud jeers when he said opposition parties in Zimbabwe and other African nations used any means, "including violence", in order to achieve power.
The breakthrough came late on Thursday after months of difficult negotiations mediated by South African President Thabo Mbeki. name="story"> class="bodl" href="#infographic">Diagram of Zimbabwe's power-sharing deal
Details of the agreement were expected to be made public on Monday. He said there were "lots of things" in the deal that neither leader liked but that they would work together to "find our way".
"As long as salient principles are recognised, there will be room for more agreement," Mr Mugabe said.
In his speech, Mr Tsvangirai said the agreement was a "product of painful compromises" and that it did not provide "an instant cure" to the fortunes of Zimbabwe.
"I've signed this agreement because I believe it represents the best opportunity for us to build a peaceful and prosperous democratic Zimbabwe," he said.
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 Zimbabwe deal: World quotesZimbabwe voices
His hope for the future was stronger than the grief felt for "the needless suffering of the past years", he said.
In a gesture of reconciliation, Mr Tsvangirai quoted a speech on reconciliation made by Mr Mugabe in 1980, saying "it is time to turn our swords into ploughshares".
The MDC leader said his first priority was to stop Zimbabwe's devastating food shortages and open the country to aid from the international community and its African neighbours.
"This unity government will let businesses flourish so our people can work and provide for their families with pride," he said.
The new Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Mutambara, said the compromise agreement was a victory for Zimbabwe.
The ceremony was somewhat marred, however, by clashes between MDC and Zanu-PF supporters outside the conference centre, who threw stones at each other and trampled part of the perimeter fence.
The BBC's George Alagiah in Harare says that the mood among ordinary Zimbabweans is one of relief rather than outright jubilation. People just want to get on with their lives.
'Highly polarised''Highly polarised'
As prime minister, Mr Tsvangirai is expected to chair a council of ministers which is responsible for the day-to-day managing of the country's affairs. The full details and content of the deal have not been confirmed but it proposes a 50-50 division of power, with Mr Mugabe remaining head of state and head of the cabinet.
According to the leaks, the MDC and another MDC faction will together have 16 ministers, while President Mugabe's Zanu-PF will have 15 ministers. Morgan Tsvangirai will head a council of ministers, which will be responsible for the day-to-day managing of the country's affairs.
Some members have called it a climb-down, although others have said it is the best available. The MDC and its breakaway faction are expected to have 16 ministers, while President Mugabe's Zanu-PF party will have 15.
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".
HAVE YOUR SAYLet's just say the deal is a step in the right directionGS, HarareSend us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAYLet's just say the deal is a step in the right directionGS, HarareSend us your comments
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 BBC's Adam Mynott says the eyes of Zimbabwe's neighbours, Africa and the whole world will be fixed now on seeing whether this deal does result in a genuine sharing of executive authority.
"Zimbabwe remains highly polarised and it will take statesmanship on all sides to make this work," he said in an e-mail to his supporters. Negotiations started at the end of July, with a breakthrough coming late on Thursday after negotiations mediated by South African President Thabo Mbeki.
Mr Tsvangirai and President Mugabe have not commented on the agreement. Speaking after the accord was signed on Monday, Mr Mbeki warned that the make-up unity government had yet to be finalised.
"Some discussions have already started about the constitution of this inclusive government, [but] they have not yet concluded," he said. "I am confident that they will do so as soon as possible."
While welcoming the deal as a "great day" for both Africa and the world, African Union chairman Jakaya Kikwete also noted that doubts remained over how long it would last.
"Will it hold or will it not? That is the question," he said.
Some MDC members have called the power-sharing deal a climb-down, although others have said it is the best available.
'A new page''A new page'
The deal opens the way for international donors to help to revive Zimbabwe's collapsing economy, where inflation is at more than 11,000,000%. The deal opens the way for international donors to help to revive Zimbabwe's economy, where inflation is at more than 11,000,000%.
The BBC's Allan Little in Johannesburg says Morgan Tsvangarai's trump card was that he alone could attract the foreign-funded reconstruction effort that Zimbabwe needs. EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said a decision on lifting sanctions on Zimbabwean officials had been postponed until October.
But he also knows that the foreign donor countries will want to see hard evidence - and soon - that power really has shifted away from Robert Mugabe, our correspondent says. Some MDC supporters are celebrating - others remain wary
European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana said a decision on lifting sanctions on Zimbabwean officials had been postponed until October. Mr Solana said the EU needed to study the details of the agreement but that he expected it to open "a new page" for Zimbabwe.
Mr Solana said the EU needed to study the details of the power-sharing agreement but that he expected it to open "a new page" for Zimbabwe. The US government expressed cautious optimism about the deal, but stressed that it was "anxious" to see the full details.
"Our number one priority is that you have a legitimate government in Zimbabwe that represents the will of the people," said White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe.
The UK Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, said it would want to see the administration make significant progress before it considered lifting sanctions.
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.
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