Tsvangirai turns to neighbours

Morgan Tsvangirai will ask African leaders to help resolve the deadlock in Zimbabwe.

A weekend summit of the Southern African Development Community failed to resolve a breakdown in talks between the opposition leader and president Robert Mugabe.

Mr Tsvangirai is heading to Botswana on a ten-day tour to ask Southern African leaders to help forge a power-sharing deal between the ruling Zanu-PF party and his Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

Mr Mugabe was re-elected in June in a ballot from which Mr Tsvangirai withdrew amid allegations of violence and vote-rigging.

MDC spokesman George Sibotshiwe said: "The Zimbabwean issue is far from resolved, and so the continent as a whole has a responsibility to continue to engage with us in finding solutions.

"Part of it is actually a process of trying to unlock the deadlocks that have emerged in the negotiations."

Zimbabwe's Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa said power-sharing talks would continue under the mediation of South African president Thabo Mbeki.

Key Western nations, whose support would be crucial for turning around Zimbabwe's ruined economy, have said they will only recognise a government led by Mr Tsvangirai.

But MDC officials say Mr Mugabe wants to retain control of government, and chair the cabinet, only allowing Mr Tsvangirai control of some ministries.

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