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'Last chance' for Zimbabwe deal Crucial Zimbabwe talks collapse
(about 6 hours later)
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai are holding talks which could be the last chance to salvage a unity government. Talks in Zimbabwe aimed at breaking the deadlock over the formation of a unity government have collapsed.
A power-sharing pact signed four months ago has stalled and the presidents of Mozambique and South Africa are leading the efforts to save the deal. Southern African mediators said after 12 hours there had been no agreement between President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai.
Mr Mugabe has warned there would be a "break" if the opposition does not accept the deal. Mr Tsvangirai called the impasse "the darkest day" but Mr Mugabe said he hoped for a new round of talks.
But Mr Tsvangirai has said he would not be "bulldozed" into an agreement. Both sides said earlier the talks would be the last chance to save a power-sharing deal signed four months ago.
Under September's deal, Mr Tsvangirai is to become prime minister while Mr Mugabe remains president. The Southern African Development Community (SADC) led the efforts to save the deal and the group is to hold a crisis summit in Harare next week.
It's hard to envisage how they find any middle-ground Knox ChitoyoZimbabwe analyst But the deal faltered after Mr Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) accused Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF of trying to keep the most powerful ministries. Mr Mugabe accused Mr Tsvangirai of presenting proposals which differed from recommendations by the 15-nation SADC.
Under September's deal, Mr Tsvangirai would serve as prime minister while Mr Mugabe remained president.
The deal first faltered after Mr Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) accused Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF of trying to keep the most powerful ministries.
The political deadlock has exacerbated the problems facing Zimbabweans, from a cholera epidemic and an economic meltdown to food shortages and the collapse of basic services such as health and education.The political deadlock has exacerbated the problems facing Zimbabweans, from a cholera epidemic and an economic meltdown to food shortages and the collapse of basic services such as health and education.
'D-Day''D-Day'
The state-run Herald newspaper has labelled the talks "D-Day". "For us as the MDC this is probably the darkest day of our lives," Mr Tsvangirai said.
Zimbabwean journalist Brian Hungwe - who is at the talks taking place in a luxury Harare hotel - says he has been told that Mr Tsvangirai presented a thick dossier of new conditions at the meeting, prompting an angry response from Mr Mugabe.
STATE OF ZIMBABWE Five million people - almost half population - need food aidCentral bank introduced Z$100tr note, worth about US$30 (£20)Unemployment more than 80%More than 2,200 people have died in cholera outbreak Crunch time for Zimbabwe?STATE OF ZIMBABWE Five million people - almost half population - need food aidCentral bank introduced Z$100tr note, worth about US$30 (£20)Unemployment more than 80%More than 2,200 people have died in cholera outbreak Crunch time for Zimbabwe?
He says there is not much hope among Zimbabweans for great strides forward, given the political rivals' hard positions, and the mood is one of despair. "I am sure the whole nation is waiting anxiously for the resolution of this crisis. We are committed to this deal but subject to Zanu-PF conceding on these issues."
One man in Harare told him: "People's lives here have collapsed significantly. People can't afford food, school, transport. I want a revival of that. Mr Mugabe said he would seek further talks before the SADC summit.
"If those talks are not going to meet those minimum requirements then those talks are nonsense." "We shall continue to exchange ideas and see where the differences are with the SADC proposal," he added.
Another man said: "My desire would be to see these two guys coming together. We, as Zimbabweans, we are suffering... it's so pathetic. I look forward to a positive result." Zimbabwean journalist Brian Hungwe - who was at the talks taking place in a luxury Harare hotel - said Mr Tsvangirai had presented a thick dossier of new conditions at the meeting, prompting an angry response from Mr Mugabe.
Zimbabwe analyst Knox Chitoyo told the BBC's Network Africa programme that the two sides had lost all trust in each other. South African President Kgalema Motlanthe, his predecessor Thabo Mbeki and Mozambican leader Armando Emilio Guebuza attended the talks, pushing for a breakthrough.
"It's hard to envisage how they find any middle-ground, said Mr Chitoyo, from the London-based Royal United Services Institute (RUSI). Also attending was Arthur Mutambara, the head of an MDC breakaway faction who is supposed to become deputy prime minister under the pact.
"One or other of them is going to have to climb down seriously." 'Bulldozed'
'Finality'
Mr Mugabe told state media Monday's talks were a last chance for the MDC to "accept" the deal, "or it's a break".
"If they have any issues they deem outstanding, they can raise them after they come into the inclusive government," he added.
Mr Tsvangirai (C) has been out of Zimbabwe since November
South African President Kgalema Motlanthe, his predecessor Thabo Mbeki and Mozambican leader Armando Emilio Guebuza are attending the talks to push for a breakthrough.
Also attending is Arthur Mutambara, the head of an MDC breakaway faction who is supposed to become deputy prime minister under the pact.
"Now is the time to find common ground among Zimbabweans. Now is the time for flexibility, compromise and pragmatism," Mr Mutambara told reporters at the venue.
On the eve of the meeting, Mr Mugabe said he had done everything required under the agreement and the time for talks was over.On the eve of the meeting, Mr Mugabe said he had done everything required under the agreement and the time for talks was over.
"We have gone past negotiations and whatever concessions were there to be made have already been made," he said in the state-owned Sunday Mail. Mr Tsvangirai (C) had been out of Zimbabwe since November
"We have done all that SADC [Southern African Development Community] expected us to do and all that remains is fulfilling the agreement by forming an inclusive government." The clear implication was that if the MDC did not signal agreement, Mr Mugabe would go ahead and form a government unilaterally, the BBC's Peter Biles in Johannesburg says.
The clear implication is that if the MDC does not signal agreement now, Mr Mugabe will go ahead and form a government unilaterally, the BBC's Peter Biles in Johannesburg says.
The MDC wants a share of the security ministries, ambassadors and regional governors.The MDC wants a share of the security ministries, ambassadors and regional governors.
Under the deal, it has 13 ministries to 15 for Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF but under the existing proposals, Zanu-PF would hold national security and defence, while home affairs, which runs the police, would be shared.Under the deal, it has 13 ministries to 15 for Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF but under the existing proposals, Zanu-PF would hold national security and defence, while home affairs, which runs the police, would be shared.
Spokesman Nelson Chamisa told AFP news agency: "There has to be finality to the dialogue process - either in failure or in success."
The MDC has also demanded an end to the abduction of opposition and human rights activists by state security agents.The MDC has also demanded an end to the abduction of opposition and human rights activists by state security agents.
Mr Tsvangirai arrived back in Zimbabwe on Saturday after an absence of more than two months, telling reporters his party would not be "bulldozed" into any deal not reflecting the will of the people.Mr Tsvangirai arrived back in Zimbabwe on Saturday after an absence of more than two months, telling reporters his party would not be "bulldozed" into any deal not reflecting the will of the people.
Mr Tsvangirai gained the most votes in elections last March but not enough for outright victory.Mr Tsvangirai gained the most votes in elections last March but not enough for outright victory.
He pulled out of a run-off in June against Mr Mugabe, citing a campaign of violence against opposition supporters.He pulled out of a run-off in June against Mr Mugabe, citing a campaign of violence against opposition supporters.