The talks, which began on Tuesday, 14 October are to be adjourned later on Friday with the parties involved optimistic of an eventual breakthrough.

President Robert Mugabe of the Zanu PF party said on Thursday he was optimistic of reaching agreement on Friday, but spokesman Nelson Chamisa of the main faction of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), led by Prime Minister-designate Morgan Tsvangirai, was sceptical.

MDC breakaway faction leader Arthur Mutambara expressed frustration at the disagreements for ministerial positions in the proposed inclusive government during the talks which are being mediated by former South African president Thabo Mbeki.

Mbeki had successfully helped the Zimbabwean leaders come to an agreement on power-sharing in September.

Hopes for a deal were high in the country on Thursday after the three leaders expressed strong optimism of a breakthrough the previous day. However the concerns between the political parties are difficult to bridge.

Contradictions in comments that the parties made on Thursday on the process was clear evidence of the gulf, with Chamisa saying they had reached a deadlock, while President Mugabe said the discussions had been "quite good".

Meanwhile, Mutambara urged the other two principals to put the interests of the country first.

He said the parties should seek to establish a government that would take collective responsibility in pursuit of national interests, especially improving the standards of living of the people.

Article published courtesy of BuaNews

[17 Oct 2008 12:22]

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