Zimbabwe factions 'close to deal'
Updated on 09 September 2008
Zimbabwe's leaders have said they could reach a power-sharing deal by Wednesday.
A new round of talks began in Harare on Monday between President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).
Mr Tsvangirai said on Tuesday: "As you are aware these talks have been dragging on for some time now, but I must say that there is a positive development.
"Nothing has been concluded yet but we are hoping that tomorrow we will be able to look at the outstanding issues."
Mr Mugabe said: "We are still going to talk. We are finishing tomorrow.
"There is progress, and lack of it, in some areas," he said, adding that "one or two areas" were still outstanding.
A breakaway MDC faction led by Arthur Mutambara said it would not sign a unilateral deal with Mr Mugabe if there was no agreement with Tsvangirai's faction too.
Mr Mutambara said there had been "tremendous progress" and he hoped for a deal on Wednesday.
He said: "There are a few remaining issues to be resolved, important issues to be resolved and we hope tomorrow we will be able to bring finality and closure to the dialogue process."
South African president Thabo Mbeki is attempting to broker an agreement on sharing executive powers between the sides.
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