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Zimbabwe in 'make or break' talks S African summit tackles crises
(about 10 hours later)
Southern African leaders are gathering in Johannesburg for talks aimed at breaking Zimbabwe's political deadlock. Southern African leaders are meeting in Johannesburg for talks aimed at breaking Zimbabwe's political deadlock.
President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai have been unable to agree details of a power sharing deal following disputed polls. South Africa's new president Kgalema Motlanthe urged both sides to show "political maturity" and implement a deal agreed after disputed polls.
South Africa has promised to take a tough stance, saying that Zimbabwe cannot afford to descend into conflict. An official said Sunday's meetings, attended by President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, would be "make or break".
A top Zimbabwean government official said that Sunday's meetings would be "make or break". Regional leaders also called for an immediate ceasefire in DR Congo.
The summit is also expected to discuss the ongoing violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The UN reported fresh fighting had broken out between rebels and government forces on Sunday near Ngungu, 60km west of the regional capital, Goma. More than a quarter of a million people have been displaced in the eastern Congo since fighting flared up in August.
Mr Motlanthe, who is chairing the meeting the Southern African Development Community (SADC), said: "We call for an immediate ceasefire to allow humanitarian assistance to the displaced people".
"We firmly believe that there is no military solution to the problem."
Sticking pointSticking point
Mr Tsvangirai, leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), and Mr Mugabe signed the power-sharing deal in September, but have since been unable to agree on how to share cabinet posts. The emergency summit had originally been called to tackle the Zimbabwe political crisis.
Mr Motlanthe said he was disappointed that two months after the signing of a power sharing agreement, the parties still had not formed an inclusive government.
"The political leadership in Zimbabwe owe it to the people of Zimbabwe in the region to show political maturity by putting the interest of Zimbabwe first," he said.Mr Biti said Zimbabwe was becoming an embarrassment to all Africans
Mr Tsvangirai, leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), and Mr Mugabe have been unable to agree on how to share cabinet posts.
The key sticking point at the latest round of talks was control of the home affairs ministry, which is responsible for the police.The key sticking point at the latest round of talks was control of the home affairs ministry, which is responsible for the police.
South African President Kgalema Motlanthe, who will chair this emergency meeting of leaders from the Southern African Development Community (SADC), said Zimbabwe's internal disputes were "a luxury they really can least afford".
"They should be striving to form one government for the people of Zimbabwe so that they can really begin to tackle the challenges of economic recovery and political stability," he said.
Mr Biti said Zimbabwe was becoming an embarrassment to all Africans
The country is facing severe food shortages and rampant inflation but neither side appears to be willing to compromise.The country is facing severe food shortages and rampant inflation but neither side appears to be willing to compromise.
The summit follows a smaller meeting at the end of October, which concluded without success.The summit follows a smaller meeting at the end of October, which concluded without success.
A top Zimbabwean government official told AFP that Sunday's meetings would be "make or break".A top Zimbabwean government official told AFP that Sunday's meetings would be "make or break".
He said that if Mr Tsvangirai and his party "continue to make outrageous demands, shifting goalposts", the ruling Zanu-PF party would go its own way, adding: "We don't care what the world will say."He said that if Mr Tsvangirai and his party "continue to make outrageous demands, shifting goalposts", the ruling Zanu-PF party would go its own way, adding: "We don't care what the world will say."
Meanwhile, an opposition spokesman said that unless there was a "major shift" in Zanu-PF's position, the MDC would not accept the deal.Meanwhile, an opposition spokesman said that unless there was a "major shift" in Zanu-PF's position, the MDC would not accept the deal.
"We are not prepared to accept anything that is not worthwhile for Zimbabweans," he said.
MDC chairman Tendai Biti said that Zimbabwe had become "an embarrassment to every African".MDC chairman Tendai Biti said that Zimbabwe had become "an embarrassment to every African".
"We need to close this chapter of Zimbabwe so that Zimbabwe can reconstruct, can restart and can rehabilitate itself and can move forward," he said."We need to close this chapter of Zimbabwe so that Zimbabwe can reconstruct, can restart and can rehabilitate itself and can move forward," he said.
The BBC's Peter Biles in Johannesburg says that despite the international pressure, there is little sense of optimism about the summit. The BBC's Peter Biles, in Johannesburg, says that despite the international pressure, there is little sense of optimism about the summit.
Last week, the MDC claimed that Mr Mugabe's party had "killed the dialogue" by unleashing "a new orgy of brutality and assaults across the whole country".Last week, the MDC claimed that Mr Mugabe's party had "killed the dialogue" by unleashing "a new orgy of brutality and assaults across the whole country".
It said a Zanu-PF militia group had attacked at least 25 MDC supporters in the capital, Harare, and that state security forces had raided homes belonging to MDC supporters, arresting nine people including a two-year-old child.It said a Zanu-PF militia group had attacked at least 25 MDC supporters in the capital, Harare, and that state security forces had raided homes belonging to MDC supporters, arresting nine people including a two-year-old child.
Although the summit was called to discuss Zimbabwe, it is also expected to address the ongoing violence in the DR Congo, where tens of thousands of people have been displaced by fighting between rebel groups.