Mugabe and Tsvangirai shake hands after signing deal of understanding

Last Modified: 21 Jul 2008
By: Channel 4 News

Zimbabwe's president and opposition leader shake hands after signing a deal to share government to end the political crisis.

Zimbabwe's ruling Zanu-PF and the two MDC opposition factions signed the memorundum of understanding, charting a new way for Zimbabwe to resolve the countries problems, this afternoon.

It was the first meeting between the two rivals Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai - who are said to detest each other - in 10 years.

They sat at a conference table separated by South African President Thabo Mbeki who mediated the deal.

The preliminary agreement was signed in Harare's Rainbow Towers Hotel. It comes after weeks of deadlock since Mugabe was re-elected on June 27 in a widely condemned poll. Tsvangirai boycotted the poll because of violence against his supporters.