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Zimbabwe poised to resume talks Zimbabwe poised to resume talks
(about 1 hour later)
Efforts to form a power-sharing government in Zimbabwe resume shortly between President Robert Mugabe and his rival, Morgan Tsvangirai.Efforts to form a power-sharing government in Zimbabwe resume shortly between President Robert Mugabe and his rival, Morgan Tsvangirai.
They are taking place in the capital Harare under the continued mediation of South African ex-leader Thabo Mbeki.They are taking place in the capital Harare under the continued mediation of South African ex-leader Thabo Mbeki.
The process has been deadlocked over the allocation of key cabinet posts.The process has been deadlocked over the allocation of key cabinet posts.
Six weeks have passed since Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai shook hands in Harare and signed what appeared to be an historic power-sharing agreement.Six weeks have passed since Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai shook hands in Harare and signed what appeared to be an historic power-sharing agreement.
But attempts to form an inclusive government have run into serious trouble, BBC Southern Africa correspondent Peter Biles reports.But attempts to form an inclusive government have run into serious trouble, BBC Southern Africa correspondent Peter Biles reports.
Mr Tsvangirai and Mr Mugabe signed a power-sharing deal last month This meeting, which included several regional leaders, was due to take place last week in Swaziland, but Mr Tsvangirai said he could not attend as the Zimbabwean authorities had refused to give him a passport.
Mr Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change says President Mugabe and his party, Zanu-PF, seem intent on controlling all the important ministries and sidelining the MDC.Mr Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change says President Mugabe and his party, Zanu-PF, seem intent on controlling all the important ministries and sidelining the MDC.
The deadlock is centred on the question of who gets responsibility for the Ministry of Home Affairs, which controls the police. 'Bully'
Mr Mbeki remains the facilitator of this tortuous process but a number of regional leaders are also expected in Harare to oversee the resumption of the talks. "Our commitment is to an equitable power-sharing arrangement, otherwise we are not going to be party to it and we may as well look for alternative political options," Mr Tsvangirai told a rally of his supporters on Saturday.
Last Monday, Mr Tsvangirai said he had been unable to attend a similar meeting in Swaziland because the Zimbabwean authorities had refused to issue him with a passport. We respect Mbeki but quiet diplomacy has its limits if it leads to quiet approval of wrong things Morgan Tsvangirai class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7689991.stm">Mood sours over Zimbabwe deal class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7617731.stm">Zimbabwe deal: Key points "When it comes to negotiations, no-one is to bully us."
The MDC leader has threatened to pull out of the deal, under which he would be named prime minister.
Mr Mugabe has allocated the key ministries of defence, justice and foreign affairs to Zanu-PF.
After four days of talks earlier this month, he agreed to let the MDC have the finance portfolio.
The deadlock is centred on the question of who gets responsibility for the home affairs ministry, which controls the police.
The deal specifies that Zanu-PF should have 15 ministries, Mr Tsvangirai's MDC 13 and a breakaway MDC faction three.
Though Mr Mbeki remains the facilitator of this tortuous process, some observers say he may have lost some of his influence since being forced to resign as South African president just days after brokering the deal.
The MDC has long criticised Mr Mbeki for his policy of "quiet diplomacy" towards Mr Mugabe and has previously called for him to be replaced.
"We respect Mbeki but quiet diplomacy has its limits if it leads to quiet approval of wrong things," Mr Tsvangirai said.