World News Story

09 January 2009 01:36 BST

Zimbabwe power-sharing deal in doubt

Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has announced his party's withdrawal from a power-sharing deal signed last month.

The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader said he would not participate in talks with president Robert Mugabe until they were mediated by either the African Union (AU) or Southern African Development Community (SADC).

"We have declared a deadlock and therefore the process cannot move forward except in the presence of a facilitator," Tsvangirai told reporters on Thursday during a press conference at his Harare residence.

The MDC party last week called for former South African president, Thabo Mbeki, to mediate in the power-sharing talks but Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF party insists that no outside mediation is needed.

Mr Mugabe signed away some of his sweeping executive powers to Mr Tsvangirai on September 15th under a power-sharing agreement brokered by Mr Mbeki after months of intense negotiations.

However, implementation of the power -sharing deal paving the way for the formation of a unity government has been stalled by disagreements over the allocation of ministries between Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai.

"We have communicated this position to SADC and the AU as well as to the facilitator, and have confidence that our African brothers will do everything in their power to ensure that this issue is resolved with speed," Mr Tsvangirai added.

"We look forward to working with SADC, AU and the facilitator in order to find a solution."

According to Mr Tsvangirai, Mr Mugabe is demanding key ministries in a new government set up.

Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF party says only two key ministries, home affairs and finance, remain in dispute but the MDC say most cabinet posts are still undecided.

The South African government has said Mr Mbeki, who brokered the Zimbabwe power-sharing deal, had agreed to resume his mediation to resolve the outstanding dispute between the tow bitter rivals.