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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Zimbabwe MDC 'in unity boycott' | Zimbabwe MDC 'in unity boycott' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Zimbabwe's prime minister has said his party will disengage from the unity government until outstanding issues of a power-sharing deal are dealt with. | Zimbabwe's prime minister has said his party will disengage from the unity government until outstanding issues of a power-sharing deal are dealt with. |
| Morgan Tsvangirai said the MDC was not "pulling out officially", but would not continue working with President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF party. | Morgan Tsvangirai said the MDC was not "pulling out officially", but would not continue working with President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF party. |
| He said the move was prompted by the jailing this week of top MDC official Roy Bennett on terrorism charges. | He said the move was prompted by the jailing this week of top MDC official Roy Bennett on terrorism charges. |
| It showed Zanu-PF to be an "unreliable" partner, Mr Tsvangirai said. | It showed Zanu-PF to be an "unreliable" partner, Mr Tsvangirai said. |
| "It has brought home the reality that as a movement we have an unreliable and unrepentant partner in the transitional government," AFP quotes him as saying. | "It has brought home the reality that as a movement we have an unreliable and unrepentant partner in the transitional government," AFP quotes him as saying. |
| Until confidence has been restored we can't continue to pretend that everything is well Morgan Tsvangirai | Until confidence has been restored we can't continue to pretend that everything is well Morgan Tsvangirai |
| Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai agreed to share power in February after disputed elections last year marred by violence. | Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai agreed to share power in February after disputed elections last year marred by violence. |
| But since then their parties have failed to agree on appointees for provincial governors, the central bank governor and the attorney general. | But since then their parties have failed to agree on appointees for provincial governors, the central bank governor and the attorney general. |
| The Movement for Democratic Change also accuses Zanu-PF of persecuting its legislators and activists. | |
| Zimbabwean journalist Brian Hungwe told the BBC Mr Tsvangirai said the MDC was open to talks to break the impasse. | Zimbabwean journalist Brian Hungwe told the BBC Mr Tsvangirai said the MDC was open to talks to break the impasse. |
| But the prime minister also accused Zanu-PF of beginning to set up militia bases in the countryside, and militarising state institutions ahead of future elections. | But the prime minister also accused Zanu-PF of beginning to set up militia bases in the countryside, and militarising state institutions ahead of future elections. |
| 'Persecuted' | 'Persecuted' |
| Mr Tsvangirai said the MDC was officially pulling out of cabinet and council of ministers meetings as well as routine Monday meetings between the leaders of the three parties in the national unity government. | Mr Tsvangirai said the MDC was officially pulling out of cabinet and council of ministers meetings as well as routine Monday meetings between the leaders of the three parties in the national unity government. |
| "Until confidence has been restored, we can't continue to pretend that everything is well," AP news agency quotes Mr Tsvangirai as saying. | "Until confidence has been restored, we can't continue to pretend that everything is well," AP news agency quotes Mr Tsvangirai as saying. |
| Mr Bennett, who is Mr Tsvangirai's nominee for deputy agriculture minister, is due to stand trial on 19 October on charges of terrorism, insurgency, sabotage and banditry. If convicted he faces a life jail term. | Mr Bennett, who is Mr Tsvangirai's nominee for deputy agriculture minister, is due to stand trial on 19 October on charges of terrorism, insurgency, sabotage and banditry. If convicted he faces a life jail term. |
| "Roy Bennett is not being prosecuted, he is being persecuted," Mr Tsvangirai said. | "Roy Bennett is not being prosecuted, he is being persecuted," Mr Tsvangirai said. |
| Mr Bennett was initially arrested and jailed in February, on the day ministers in the coalition government were sworn in, but released in March on bail. |