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Regional leaders discuss Zimbabwe Tsvangirai 'cannot attend talks'
(about 4 hours later)
Southern African leaders are to meet in Swaziland to try to break the deadlock over the formation of a power-sharing government in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe's opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai cannot attend regional talks on the crisis because of delays with his travel documents, officials say.
Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai remains hopeful a power-sharing deal with President Robert Mugabe can work, despite an impasse in talks last week. The authorities did not give him a passport, but an emergency travel document, and he did not have time to get a visa, one of his aides said.
Mr Tsvangirai said the deal was sound but there was "a problem of trust" between himself and Mr Mugabe. The summit in Swaziland was called after the failure of four days of talks last week on allocating cabinet posts.
Mr Tsvangirai and President Robert Mugabe have agreed to share power.
But Mr Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change has accused Mr Mugabe of trying to grab power, by allocating all the key ministerial positions to his Zanu-PF party.
I wouldn't say there is a deadlock... The matters are capable of solution quite easily Thabo MbekiFormer South African President Zimbabwe deal: Key pointsCrunch time for Mbeki's legacyHave Your SayDiagram of power-sharing deal Monday's meeting is being hosted by the ruler of Swaziland, King Mswati. With the leaders of Angola and Mozambique, he forms the security panel of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
On Sunday, Mr Tsvangirai said the deal was sound but there was "a problem of trust" between himself and Mr Mugabe.
President Mugabe's Zanu-PF party said Zimbabwe would not bow to pressure.President Mugabe's Zanu-PF party said Zimbabwe would not bow to pressure.
Monday's meeting is being hosted by the ruler of Swaziland, King Mswati; with the leaders of Angola and Mozambique, he forms the security panel of the Southern African Development Community.
Robert Mugabe said his allies should hold the key posts in the cabinet
They will be hearing a report from the Sadc's mediator on Zimbabwe, Thabo Mbeki.They will be hearing a report from the Sadc's mediator on Zimbabwe, Thabo Mbeki.
But Zanu-PF's chief negotiator Patrick Chinamasa warned: "They can't impose anything on us especially on such a small matter as the allocation of ministries."But Zanu-PF's chief negotiator Patrick Chinamasa warned: "They can't impose anything on us especially on such a small matter as the allocation of ministries."
Talks on sharing cabinet posts have stalled over Mr Mugabe's insistence on appointing his supporters to key positions.
Difficult negotiationsDifficult negotiations
Four days of negotiations ended on Friday with the two sides unable to agree on a division of government posts.
Speaking at a rally of his Movement for Democratic Change on Sunday in Masvingo, Mr Tsvangirai said: "This time we won't fail."Speaking at a rally of his Movement for Democratic Change on Sunday in Masvingo, Mr Tsvangirai said: "This time we won't fail."
I wouldn't say there is a deadlock... The matters are capable of solution quite easily Thabo MbekiFormer South African President class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7617731.stm">Zimbabwe deal: Key points class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7668172.stm">Crunch time for Mbeki's legacy class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=5522&edition=1">Have Your Say class="" href="#infographic">Diagram of power-sharing deal name="top"> Robert Mugabe said his allies should hold the key posts in the cabinet He had earlier described last week's talks in Harare as "a dialogue of the deaf".
He had earlier described last week's talks in Harare as "a dialogue of the deaf".
"It was one-man monologue. Mugabe does not negotiate. He just says 'No'," the news agency AFP reported."It was one-man monologue. Mugabe does not negotiate. He just says 'No'," the news agency AFP reported.
The efforts to reach a deal were mediated by former South African President Thabo Mbeki.The efforts to reach a deal were mediated by former South African President Thabo Mbeki.
Mr Mbeki oversaw the signing of the power-sharing framework deal a month ago, but has since stepped down from office in South Africa and is now attempting to construct Zimbabwe's new government as a private citizen.Mr Mbeki oversaw the signing of the power-sharing framework deal a month ago, but has since stepped down from office in South Africa and is now attempting to construct Zimbabwe's new government as a private citizen.
Ministry conflictsMinistry conflicts
The BBC's Jonah Fisher, following events from South Africa, says the power-sharing deal now teeters on the brink of total collapse.The BBC's Jonah Fisher, following events from South Africa, says the power-sharing deal now teeters on the brink of total collapse.
MINISTRY DIVISION Zanu-PF: 14 ministries including: DefenceForeign affairs JusticeLocal governmentMedia Main MDC: 13 ministries including: Constitutional and parliamentary affairsEconomic planning and investment promotionLabourSportArts and cultureScience and technology development MDC (Mutambara): three including: EducationIndustry and commerce Source: Government gazetteMINISTRY DIVISION Zanu-PF: 14 ministries including: DefenceForeign affairs JusticeLocal governmentMedia Main MDC: 13 ministries including: Constitutional and parliamentary affairsEconomic planning and investment promotionLabourSportArts and cultureScience and technology development MDC (Mutambara): three including: EducationIndustry and commerce Source: Government gazette
President Mugabe had reportedly told the MDC he had allocated the main ministries, including defence, home, foreign affairs, and justice, to Zanu-PF. President Mugabe has allocated the main ministries, including defence, home, foreign affairs, and justice, to Zanu-PF.
Mr Tsvangirai later told Mr Mbeki that 10 cabinet positions needed to be revisited at the negotiations, officials said.Mr Tsvangirai later told Mr Mbeki that 10 cabinet positions needed to be revisited at the negotiations, officials said.
As well as finance, the MDC also insisted it should have home affairs - and control of the police - if Zanu-PF had defence.As well as finance, the MDC also insisted it should have home affairs - and control of the police - if Zanu-PF had defence.
They say they need home affairs to give them a stake in the country's security forces and that power sharing should mean them getting a fair share of key cabinet positions, our correspondent says.They say they need home affairs to give them a stake in the country's security forces and that power sharing should mean them getting a fair share of key cabinet positions, our correspondent says.
The MDC accused the security services of taking part in violent attacks on its supporters before June's presidential run-off election.The MDC accused the security services of taking part in violent attacks on its supporters before June's presidential run-off election.
Yet it was the MDC's insistence on taking the home affairs portfolio that has proved the biggest sticking point, a senior aide to Mr Mugabe told The Herald newspaper.Yet it was the MDC's insistence on taking the home affairs portfolio that has proved the biggest sticking point, a senior aide to Mr Mugabe told The Herald newspaper.
Reports on Friday suggested that Mr Mugabe might have agreed to let the MDC take the key post of finance minister, but that he would not give it home affairs.Reports on Friday suggested that Mr Mugabe might have agreed to let the MDC take the key post of finance minister, but that he would not give it home affairs.
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.Donors have promised to help finance a recovery plan but they are unlikely to release funds if a Zanu-PF minister is in charge.
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 within the next few months.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 within the next few months.
According to the original power-sharing deal agreed last month, 15 ministries are to be allocated to Zanu-PF, 13 to the MDC, and three to a smaller MDC faction led by Arthur Mutambara.According to the original power-sharing deal agreed last month, 15 ministries are to be allocated to Zanu-PF, 13 to the MDC, and three to a smaller MDC faction led by Arthur Mutambara.
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