WORLD> Africa
Zimbabwe rivals in make or break talks to end crisis
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-08-13 08:48

JOHANNESBURG - Zimbabwe's rivals pressed on with a third day of power-sharing talks Tuesday after long hours of previous negotiations failed to produce a deal to end the country's bitter political crisis, according to the South African Press Association.


Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe arrives for the Defence Forces celebrations at Gwanzura stadium, Highfields Harare, August 12, 2008. [Agencies] 

Pressure has been building for the political rivals to resolve the crisis, which intensified after Mugabe's controversial re- election in June, with a summit of regional leaders set to take place in South Africa this weekend.

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South African President Thabo Mbeki, who has been mediating the Zimbabwe talks, was also due to fly home later Tuesday. "It's unknowable when a deal will be reached but the president is due back from Zimbabwe later today," Mbeki spokesman Mukoni Ratshitanga told media.

Mugabe, Tsvangirai and Mutambara had spent some four hours at a Harare hotel on Monday in the follow-up to marathon talks the previous day.

Asked about sticking points as he left the hotel last evening, Mugabe said "they will be overcome".

Sunday's talks broke up more than 13 hours after the leaders had gathered at the hotel, with Mugabe saying afterwards he was "confident" a deal was within reach.