Zimbabwe Rivals fail to Agree on Power Sharing

Talks towards the formation of a unity government in Zimbabwe have adjourned, with reports speculating that President Robert Mugabe may opt for a deal that excludes Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai. South African leader Thabo Mbeki however announced that the negotiations had not broken down, but had only taken a break to give Tsvangirai time to weigh his options. There is speculation that Mugabe may have worked out a separate deal with a breakaway faction of Tsvangirai’s opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), which is led by Arthur Mutambara. Tsvangirai believes his electoral victory over Mugabe in the March first round presidential ballot entitles him to a greater position of power than Mugabe is willing to cede. [PE]