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| Zimbabwe rivals to discuss deal | Zimbabwe rivals to discuss deal |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Zimbabwe's opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai is due to meet President Robert Mugabe to discuss details of a breakthrough power-sharing government. | Zimbabwe's opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai is due to meet President Robert Mugabe to discuss details of a breakthrough power-sharing government. |
| The meeting follows an announcement late on Thursday that a deal had been struck after seven weeks of talks. | The meeting follows an announcement late on Thursday that a deal had been struck after seven weeks of talks. |
| It is thought that Mr Tsvangirai will become prime minister and will chair a council of ministers, while Mr Mugabe will head the cabinet. | It is thought that Mr Tsvangirai will become prime minister and will chair a council of ministers, while Mr Mugabe will head the cabinet. |
| Mr Tsvangirai has confirmed the deal, but Mr Mugabe has yet to comment. | Mr Tsvangirai has confirmed the deal, but Mr Mugabe has yet to comment. |
| South African President Thabo Mbeki, who mediated the talks in Harare, said the agreement would be signed and made public on Monday. | South African President Thabo Mbeki, who mediated the talks in Harare, said the agreement would be signed and made public on Monday. |
| The government and the opposition MDC had already agreed that Mr Tsvangirai would be prime minister with Mr Mugabe staying on as president. | The government and the opposition MDC had already agreed that Mr Tsvangirai would be prime minister with Mr Mugabe staying on as president. |
| Negotiations started at the end of July, but had 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 had stalled over the allocation of executive power between Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai, bitter rivals for a decade. |
| 'Parallel governments' | 'Parallel governments' |
| Mr Tsvangirai may now chair a new council of ministers and control the day-to-day running of the country, but Mr Mugabe will head the cabinet, the BBC's Peter Biles says. | Mr Tsvangirai may now chair a new council of ministers and control the day-to-day running of the country, but Mr Mugabe will head the cabinet, the BBC's Peter Biles says. |
| However, how two, in effect parallel, governments will work is unclear, he adds. | However, how two, in effect parallel, governments will work is unclear, he adds. |
| Mr Tsvangirai, leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), was first to announce the breakthrough, telling reporters simply: "We've got a deal." | Mr Tsvangirai, leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), was first to announce the breakthrough, telling reporters simply: "We've got a deal." |
| Profile: Morgan Tsvangirai | Profile: Morgan Tsvangirai |
| Later, Mr Mbeki told a news conference the two sides had agreed to form an inclusive government. | Later, Mr Mbeki told a news conference 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." |
| MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa told the BBC: "Both political parties are committed, it's our wish that the deal will be successful." | MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa told the BBC: "Both political parties are committed, it's our wish that the deal will be successful." |
| Zimbabwe's envoy to the UN, Boniface Chidyausiku, told the BBC that the deal was a "triumph for African diplomacy". | Zimbabwe's envoy to the UN, Boniface Chidyausiku, told the BBC that the deal was a "triumph for African diplomacy". |
| The UN special representative on Zimbabwe, Haile Menkerios, said the announcement marked a way forward that all sides could live with. | The UN special representative on Zimbabwe, Haile Menkerios, said the announcement marked a way forward that all sides could live with. |
| Britain's Foreign Office said it was following the situation closely, adding that "our concern is the welfare of the Zimbabwean people". | Britain's Foreign Office said it was following the situation closely, adding that "our concern is the welfare of the Zimbabwean people". |
| The discussions are thought to have been deadlocked over how many ministries each party should have in a unity government, and how much power Mr Mugabe should retain. | The discussions are thought to have been deadlocked over how many ministries each party should have in a unity government, and how much power Mr Mugabe should retain. |
| Mr Tsvangirai has consistently demanded that he should become executive prime minister, thereby taking over some of the powers that Mr Mugabe has exercised for more than 28 years, our correspondent says. | Mr Tsvangirai has consistently demanded that he should become executive prime minister, thereby taking over some of the powers that Mr Mugabe has exercised for more than 28 years, our correspondent says. |
| Aid hopes | Aid hopes |
| The agreement opens the way for international donors to help to revive Zimbabwe's economy. | The agreement opens the way for international donors to help to revive Zimbabwe's economy. |
| Profile: Robert Mugabe | Profile: Robert Mugabe |
| It is now the fastest shrinking in the world with annual inflation of more than 11,000,000%. | It is now the fastest shrinking 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 June presidential run-off election unopposed after Mr Tsvangirai withdrew, claiming the MDC was the target of state-sponsored violence. | Mr Mugabe, in power since independence from Britain in 1980, won a controversial June presidential run-off election unopposed after Mr Tsvangirai withdrew, claiming the MDC was the target of state-sponsored violence. |
| In the first 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 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. |
| Earlier on Thursday, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said any power-sharing deal in Zimbabwe would be judged by how much it reflected legitimate election results. | Earlier on Thursday, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said any power-sharing deal in Zimbabwe would be judged by how much it reflected legitimate election results. |