Mugabe gives downbeat assessment of Zimbabwe talks

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(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-08-12 09:15

HARARE, Zimbabwe -- Talks to try to find a solution to Zimbabwe's political crisis continue in Harare Tuesday despite a downbeat assessment by President Robert Mugabe on the progress so far.

Asked by reporters when he left talks Monday whether the negotiations on a power-sharing government were going well, Mugabe said: "Not exactly" but said that negotiations would continue.

Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe and his wife Grace (L) arrive for the commemoration of Heroes Day at the National heroes' acre in Harare August 11, 2008. Mugabe said on Monday that marathon power-sharing talks with the opposition were about "little hurdles" and the rivals were reaching consensus on the way forward. [Agencies]

Mugabe, his rivals and South African President Thabo Mbeki, who is mediating, have been in closed-door talks at a Harare hotel since Sunday morning. The talks had been expected to end Sunday evening, and the repeated extensions indicate they are deadlocked.

The chief obstacle has been differences over what role, if any, Mugabe would have in a possible unity government. Main opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has said he could work with moderates from Mugabe's ZANU-PF party, but not with Mugabe. ZANU-PF has insisted Mugabe remain president, and he may be balking at ceding much power to Tsvangirai.

Mugabe left Monday's session before Mbeki or Tsvangirai, who said as he left that "we will advise on the issues as we move forward." He did not elaborate.

Tuesday's session was scheduled for the afternoon, after celebrations of Armed Forces Day, a Zimbabwean national holiday.

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