Talks reach milestone, says Mugabe spokesman

Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe's spokesman said yesterday talks between Zimbabwe's ruling party and the opposition had reached a milestone, but he declined to comment on whether a power-sharing deal was imminent.

Zimbabwe mediator South African President Thabo Mbeki was expected to arrive in Harare later yesterday and quickly meet both sides, said a senior Zimbabwean official.

Optimism has been growing that a deal would be reached soon.