Zimbabwe crisis talks 'under threat'

Zimbabwe's opposition MDC has said President Robert Mugabe's government's decision to convene parliament would endanger power-sharing talks between the political rivals.

Negotiations began last month after Mr Mugabe was re-elected unopposed in June, in a vote condemned around the world and boycotted by the MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai because of attacks on his supporters.

A parliamentary spokesman said: "We have now been informed that the President has fixed Monday August 25 as the date of the swearing-in of members of parliament."

But MDC Secretary-General, Tendai Biti, said: "Any decision to convene parliament will be a clear repudiation of the Memorandum of Understanding, and an indication beyond reasonable doubt of Zanu-PF's unwillingness to continue to be part of the talks.

"In short convening parliament decapitates the dialogue."

In the March elections, Zanu-PF lost its parliamentary majority for the first time since independence from Britain in 1980, but Mr Tsvangirai's MDC did not win an overall majority either.

The balance of power rests in the hands of a breakaway opposition faction led by Arthur Mutambara.

He has moved closer to Mr Mugabe in recent weeks and any deal between them could weaken Mr Tsvangirai, Zimbabwe's most powerful opposition leader, and add to political uncertainty.

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