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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Zimbabwe foes 'near cabinet deal' | Zimbabwe foes 'near cabinet deal' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe and a top opposition official have said a deal could be reached shortly to name a power-sharing government. | Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe and a top opposition official have said a deal could be reached shortly to name a power-sharing government. |
| One of Mr Mugabe's officials says changes could be made to the cabinet posts named last week, the state-owned Herald newspaper reports. | One of Mr Mugabe's officials says changes could be made to the cabinet posts named last week, the state-owned Herald newspaper reports. |
| However, opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai was less optimistic, saying the talks had been "quite circuitous". | However, opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai was less optimistic, saying the talks had been "quite circuitous". |
| Former South African leader Thabo Mbeki is leading a third day of crisis talks. | |
| Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai signed a deal to share power last month but they have since been unable to agree on which party should hold which cabinet posts. | Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai signed a deal to share power last month but they have since been unable to agree on which party should hold which cabinet posts. |
| Last weekend, Mr Mugabe allocated all the key posts to Zanu-PF, prompting Mr Tsvangirai to threaten to pull out of the agreement and Mr Mbeki to fly to Harare on Monday. | Last weekend, Mr Mugabe allocated all the key posts to Zanu-PF, prompting Mr Tsvangirai to threaten to pull out of the agreement and Mr Mbeki to fly to Harare on Monday. |
| But the mood seemed to have changed during Wednesday's talks. | But the mood seemed to have changed during Wednesday's talks. |
| 'Compromise' | 'Compromise' |
| "We have made some progress and we will finish tomorrow," Mr Mugabe said after talks ended. | "We have made some progress and we will finish tomorrow," Mr Mugabe said after talks ended. |
| "History is being made and mountains are being moved," said Tendai Biti, general secretary of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). | "History is being made and mountains are being moved," said Tendai Biti, general secretary of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). |
| He said a deal could come on Thursday "if you pray hard". | He said a deal could come on Thursday "if you pray hard". |
| Mbeki, who stepped down last month, is in Zimbabwe as a private citizen The Herald quotes an unnamed Zanu-PF official as saying: "There could be some changes to the list [of ministry allocations] gazetted last week as the parties find each other and make compromises for the sake of progress." | Mbeki, who stepped down last month, is in Zimbabwe as a private citizen The Herald quotes an unnamed Zanu-PF official as saying: "There could be some changes to the list [of ministry allocations] gazetted last week as the parties find each other and make compromises for the sake of progress." |
| 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. |
| The latest talks began on Tuesday as Zimbabwe's parliament held its first working session under opposition control since disputed elections earlier this year. | The latest 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. | MPs heckled each other at the opening. |
| 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. |
| Rescue plan | Rescue plan |
| Finance is one of the most crucial posts, as Zimbabweans hope the power-sharing deal will lead to action to tackle the economic crisis. | Finance is one of the most crucial posts, as Zimbabweans hope the power-sharing deal will lead to action to tackle the economic crisis. |
| Donors have promised to help finance a recovery plan but they are unlikely to release funds if a Zanu-PF minister is in charge of the economy. | Donors have promised to help finance a recovery plan but they are unlikely to release funds if a Zanu-PF minister is in charge of the economy. |
| At 231,000,000%, Zimbabwe has the world's highest rate of annual inflation, while some two million people need food aid. | At 231,000,000%, Zimbabwe has the world's highest rate of annual inflation, while some two million people need food aid. |
| Aid agencies warn that figure could double, leaving almost half the population going hungry within the next few months. | Aid agencies warn that figure could double, leaving almost half the population going hungry within the next few months. |
| As well as finance, the MDC also insists it should have home affairs - and control of the police - if Zanu-PF has defence. | As well as finance, the MDC also insists it should have home affairs - and control of the police - if Zanu-PF has defence. |
| The MDC has accused both the police and the military of taking part in violent attacks on its supporters ahead of the presidential run-off in June. | The MDC has accused both the police and the military of taking part in violent attacks on its supporters ahead of the presidential run-off in June. |