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African leaders in Zimbabwe talks Mbeki tasked with Zimbabwe crisis
(about 3 hours later)
A summit of 14 southern African countries is being held in Tanzania, with the crisis in Zimbabwe and its impact on the region top of the agenda. A summit of 14 southern African nations has agreed that South African President Thabo Mbeki should try to mediate in the political crisis in Zimbabwe.
Diplomats say leaders will tell Robert Mugabe that he should not stand for re-election in Zimbabwe next year. Mr Mbeki will aim to formally arrange talks between Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and the opposition.
But a presidential spokesman told the BBC it was for voters not heads of state to tell Mr Mugabe when to go. The meeting also called on the West to drop sanctions and appealed to Britain to "honour its commitments" to fund land reforms in its former colony.
The Tanzania summit came amid rising concern about the Zimbabwe crisis.
Political violence is increasing in the country, which is beset by unemployment and poverty, and suffers the world's highest inflation - 1,700% a year.
Back from brink
Diplomats said before the summit that the leaders would tell President Mugabe that he should not stand for re-election next year, but there has been no word on whether they did so during their closed-door meeting.
Zimbabwe is under assault ... it is under assault from Western countries that have imposed illegal sanctions on it George Charamba Presidential spokesman
"The decision has been to promote dialogue of parties in Zimbabwe," Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete said at the end of the summit of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
He said the meeting was appealing to all sides to step back from the brink.
"Of course the appeal to parties is to be co-operative and give this initiative a chance, also for the parties to exercise restraint and avoid anything that's going to inflame the situation," Mr Kiweti told a news conference.
The meeting's outcome will probably disappoint the opposition which had hoped for a much tougher line , says the BBC's Peter Greste in Dar es Salaam.
Their resolution also falls far short of the action urged by the US which had called on the SADC summit to hold Mr Mugabe to account "for his misrule, not only over the last few weeks but over the last few years".
Crackdown
Political tension appears to be rising in Zimbabwe where police on Wednesday cracked down further on the opposition.Political tension appears to be rising in Zimbabwe where police on Wednesday cracked down further on the opposition.
Mugabe's hold over Africa Media urges pressure
The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) said its leader Morgan Tsvangirai was held for several hours after Wednesday's police raid on the party's headquarters in Harare.The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) said its leader Morgan Tsvangirai was held for several hours after Wednesday's police raid on the party's headquarters in Harare.
Police denied he was among those arrested.Police denied he was among those arrested.
Zimbabwe is under assault ... it is under assault from Western countries that have imposed illegal sanctions on it George Charamba Presidential spokesman
On Thursday, police cordoned off the MDC building ahead of a planned news conference.
Opposition lawmaker Felix Mashu told the conference he and several others detained on Wednesday had been beaten.
However, Mr Tsvangirai was not present, the Associated Press news agency reported.
International criticism
The summit in Tanzania brings together the 14-nation Southern African Development Community (SADC).
Talks are also expected to address recent violence in the capital of DR Congo, Kinshasa.
Mugabe's hold over Africa Media urges pressure
Zimbabwe's president will be told in very plain terms, diplomats say, that the region cannot afford to see the situation continue, let alone deteriorate into a civil war that could engulf its neighbours.
The BBC's Peter Greste in Dar es Salaam says Mr Mugabe has dismissed such complaints from the West in the past and might find it much harder to ignore those from his neighbours.
However, much of the debate will be behind closed doors.
Most African leaders have been reluctant to publicly criticise Mr Mugabe, who is still seen by many as a hero of the fight against colonial rule.Most African leaders have been reluctant to publicly criticise Mr Mugabe, who is still seen by many as a hero of the fight against colonial rule.
However, there has been some change in tone following the assault on Mr Tsvangirai and other opposition activists. However, there has been some change in tone following an assault earlier this month on Mr Tsvangirai and other opposition activists.
HAVE YOUR SAY The meeting between southern Africa's leaders is long overdue. Silent diplomacy has no future for Zimbabwe Patrick Adar, Kampala Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAY The meeting between southern Africa's leaders is long overdue. Silent diplomacy has no future for Zimbabwe Patrick Adar, Kampala Send us your comments
Richard Dowden, director of the UK's Royal African Society, told the BBC's Today programme that the SADC leaders might gently suggest that Mr Mugabe does not stand again in elections due next year. The policy-making body of Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF is due to meet on Friday to decide whether to postpone the elections and, if not, who its candidate will be.
But he says the people who really matter are those in his Zanu-PF party.
The Zanu-PF policy-making body is due to meet on Friday to decide whether to postpone the elections and, if not, who its candidate will be.
Speaking to the BBC, Mr Mugabe's spokesman George Charamba said the president would stay for as long as he had the popular vote.Speaking to the BBC, Mr Mugabe's spokesman George Charamba said the president would stay for as long as he had the popular vote.
The pressure for change, he said, was coming from the US and Europe, and Zimbabwe was hoping for the support of other African nations.The pressure for change, he said, was coming from the US and Europe, and Zimbabwe was hoping for the support of other African nations.
"Our expectations are very, very simple: to recognise that Zimbabwe is under assault... it is under assault from Western countries that have imposed illegal sanctions on it," Mr Charamba said."Our expectations are very, very simple: to recognise that Zimbabwe is under assault... it is under assault from Western countries that have imposed illegal sanctions on it," Mr Charamba said.
"This is a moment for SADC to show solidarity with Zimbabwe.""This is a moment for SADC to show solidarity with Zimbabwe."
Election decision? Mr Mugabe has blamed the opposition for the recent violence, accusing it of staging attacks.
As Mr Mugabe arrived in Tanzania on Wednesday night, the US state department expressed concern about Mr Tsvangirai and urged the SADC summit to hold Mr Mugabe to account "for his misrule, not only over the last few weeks but over the last few years".
Police say these guns and explosives belonged to the oppositionMr Mugabe has blamed the opposition for the recent violence, accusing it of staging attacks.
Police on Wednesday showed explosives and guns they said belonged to opposition activists. The MDC denies any involvement.Police on Wednesday showed explosives and guns they said belonged to opposition activists. The MDC denies any involvement.
Mr Mugabe has dismissed complaints from the West about human rights abuses and political oppression as the whining of old colonists.Mr Mugabe has dismissed complaints from the West about human rights abuses and political oppression as the whining of old colonists.
In addition to the political conflict, Zimbabweans are grappling with the world's highest inflation - 1,700% a year - while unemployment and poverty are widespread.
Mr Mugabe has governed Zimbabwe since its independence in 1980.Mr Mugabe has governed Zimbabwe since its independence in 1980.