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Zimbabwe rivals 'must compromise' Zimbabwe compromise call rejected
(42 minutes later)
A summit of southern African leaders has told Zimbabwe's rival parties they must reach a compromise to break the country's political deadlock. Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has rejected a compromise plan aimed at breaking the country's political deadlock.
President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) must share the disputed home affairs ministry, it said. A summit of southern African leaders had told Zimbabwe's rival parties they should share control of the disputed home affairs ministry.
The call came at the end of a day of talks in Johannesburg by the 15-nation Southern African Development Community.The call came at the end of a day of talks in Johannesburg by the 15-nation Southern African Development Community.
The summit also said it could send peacekeeping forces into the DR Congo.The summit also said it could send peacekeeping forces into the DR Congo.
Mr Mugabe and his MDC rival, Morgan Tsvangirai, signed a power-sharing deal eight weeks ago but have failed to reach an agreement on the formation of a cabinet. Mr Tsvangirai told reporters: "This issue of co-sharing does not work. We have said so ourselves, we have rejected it, and that's the position.
Meanwhile the country is suffering from food shortages and rampant inflation. "There is no agreement to co-sharing, to rotation, to swapping of ministries."
Mr Tsvangirai said he was committed to power-sharing but was "shocked and saddened" by the outcome of the talks.
The SADC was asked to rule and SADC took a decision and that's the position of SADC Tomaz SalomaoSADC Executive Secretary
He told the SADC leaders they lacked the courage to tell Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe that his position was wrong.
Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) signed a power-sharing deal eight weeks ago but have failed to reach an agreement on the formation of a cabinet.
South African President Kgalema Motlanthe, who chaired the summit, said an agreement on power-sharing "remains the only vehicle to help extricate Zimbabwe from her socio-economic challenges".
Zimbabwe is suffering from severe food shortages and rampant inflation.
Mr Tsvangirai has warned that a million Zimbabweans could starve to death in a year if the political deadlock continues.Mr Tsvangirai has warned that a million Zimbabweans could starve to death in a year if the political deadlock continues.
The summit was chaired by South African President Kgalema Motlanthe, who said the power-sharing agreement "remains the only vehicle to help extricate Zimbabwe from her socio-economic challenges". Congo pledge
MDC unhappy
Tomaz Salomao, executive secretary of the SADC, said the compromise would mean there would have to be two home ministers, "one appointed by Zanu-PF, one by the MDC".Tomaz Salomao, executive secretary of the SADC, said the compromise would mean there would have to be two home ministers, "one appointed by Zanu-PF, one by the MDC".
Correspondents say the move effectively backs Mr MugabeCorrespondents say the move effectively backs Mr Mugabe
Mr Salomao told reporters that "the SADC was asked to rule and SADC took a decision and that's the position of SADC".Mr Salomao told reporters that "the SADC was asked to rule and SADC took a decision and that's the position of SADC".
"Now it's up to the parties to implement," he said."Now it's up to the parties to implement," he said.
The BBC's Jonah Fisher, at the summit, says the call effectively backs Mr Mugabe.The BBC's Jonah Fisher, at the summit, says the call effectively backs Mr Mugabe.
Our correspondent says Mr Mugabe has accepted the deal but that Mr Tsvangirai was very disappointed and unhappy at the statement. Our correspondent says Mr Mugabe has accepted the deal but that Mr Tsvangirai will now hope the matter is taken from SADC and given to other bodies like the UN.
The summit also backed an immediate ceasefire in the DR Congo, where rebel fighting has displaced tens of thousands of people.The summit also backed an immediate ceasefire in the DR Congo, where rebel fighting has displaced tens of thousands of people.
SADC leaders issued a communique saying they would "not stand by and witness any destructive acts of violence by any armed groups".SADC leaders issued a communique saying they would "not stand by and witness any destructive acts of violence by any armed groups".
"The security situation in DRC is affecting peace and stability in the SADC and Great Lakes region," the group said, adding that it had agreed to send peacekeeping troops into the Congo if necessary."The security situation in DRC is affecting peace and stability in the SADC and Great Lakes region," the group said, adding that it had agreed to send peacekeeping troops into the Congo if necessary.
Mr Motlanthe had earlier told the summit that there was "no military solution" to the problem.Mr Motlanthe had earlier told the summit that there was "no military solution" to the problem.