Tsvangirai Seeks Regional Backing as Talks Flounder

One day after a regional summit of African heads of state failed to help Zimbabwe resolve its political crisis, opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has began a 10-day tour to rally regional leaders to his side. Tsvangirai began his tour with a visit to Botswana, whose President Ian Khama, is one of the foremost critics of Zimbabwean President Mugabe’s schemes to cling onto power. Opposition sources say Tsvangirai hopes to drum up enough pressure to compel Mugabe to cede substantial executive authority to him, basing on his victory in Zimbabwe’s March 27 first round presidential vote. Mugabe contested and won a subsequent one man runoff election, which Tsvangirai boycotted amid a violent campaign against his supporters. [PE]