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| 'End in sight' for Zimbabwe talks | 'End in sight' for Zimbabwe talks |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The chief negotiator for Zimbabwe's opposition party has said he is hopeful a power-sharing agreement can be reached with President Robert Mugabe. | |
| MDC General Secretary Tendai Biti was speaking at the end of a second day of talks in Harare aimed at rescuing a deadlocked power-sharing deal. | MDC General Secretary Tendai Biti was speaking at the end of a second day of talks in Harare aimed at rescuing a deadlocked power-sharing deal. |
| Former South African President Thabo Mbeki is mediating the discussions. | Former South African President Thabo Mbeki is mediating the discussions. |
| The country's leaders have yet to reach agreement over how key cabinet posts should be divided between the parties. | The country's leaders have yet to reach agreement over how key cabinet posts should be divided between the parties. |
| Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the MDC - the Movement for Democratic Change - had threatened to pull out of the negotiations after Mr Mugabe gave key ministries to officials from his own party. | Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the MDC - the Movement for Democratic Change - had threatened to pull out of the negotiations after Mr Mugabe gave key ministries to officials from his own party. |
| Mr Tsvangirai described the proceedings on Wednesday as "quite circuitous" and said there were still matters to be resolved. | Mr Tsvangirai described the proceedings on Wednesday as "quite circuitous" and said there were still matters to be resolved. |
| As he left the talks, Mr Biti told reporters he believed a deal was possible and could come on Thursday "if you pray hard". | As he left the talks, Mr Biti told reporters he believed a deal was possible and could come on Thursday "if you pray hard". |
| "History is being made and mountains are being moved," he said. | "History is being made and mountains are being moved," he said. |
| Mr Mugabe also said he believed progress had been made and that discussions would finish on Thursday. | Mr Mugabe also said he believed progress had been made and that discussions would finish on Thursday. |
| 'No conclusion' | 'No conclusion' |
| The talks began on Tuesday as Zimbabwe's parliament held its first working session under opposition control since disputed elections earlier this year. | The talks began on Tuesday as Zimbabwe's parliament held its first working session under opposition control since disputed elections earlier this year. |
| MPs heckled each other at the opening. We have covered some ground President Robert Mugabe Crunch time for Mbeki's legacyHarare diary: Daydreaming overSend us your comments | MPs heckled each other at the opening. We have covered some ground President Robert Mugabe Crunch time for Mbeki's legacyHarare diary: Daydreaming overSend us your comments |
| Mr Mugabe had earlier allocated the main ministries, including defence, home, foreign affairs, and justice, to his Zanu-PF party. | Mr Mugabe had earlier allocated the main ministries, including defence, home, foreign affairs, and justice, to his Zanu-PF party. |
| Mr Tsvangirai wants all cabinet positions to be revisited in discussions with Mr Mbeki. | Mr Tsvangirai wants all cabinet positions to be revisited in discussions with Mr Mbeki. |
| But Zanu-PF says only one ministry - finance - is up for discussion. | But Zanu-PF says only one ministry - finance - is up for discussion. |
| According to the original deal - which allocates 15 ministries to Zanu-PF, 13 to the MDC and three to a smaller MDC faction - only Zanu-PF has a ministerial seat vacant. | According to the original deal - which allocates 15 ministries to Zanu-PF, 13 to the MDC and three to a smaller MDC faction - only Zanu-PF has a ministerial seat vacant. |
| Mr Mbeki is in Zimbabwe as a private citizen, trying to save the deal that he brokered shortly before resigning as South African president at the end of September. | Mr Mbeki is in Zimbabwe as a private citizen, trying to save the deal that he brokered shortly before resigning as South African president at the end of September. |
| While the power-sharing crisis continues, life for normal Zimbabweans remains a constant struggle, the BBC's Jonah Fisher reports from neighbouring South Africa. | While the power-sharing crisis continues, life for normal Zimbabweans remains a constant struggle, the BBC's Jonah Fisher reports from neighbouring South Africa. |
| Two million people are currently in need of food aid, with that figure set to increase to almost half the population over the next three months, our correspondent says. | Two million people are currently in need of food aid, with that figure set to increase to almost half the population over the next three months, our correspondent says. |