Zimbabwe's Tsvangirai 'not ready for talks'

Zimbabwe opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has said current conditions are not suitable for talks with President Robert Mugabe.African leaders at a summit in Egypt on Tuesday urged Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai to begin negotiations to end the crisis over Mr Mugabe's re-election.The election was widely criticised because it was a one-candidate poll from which Mr Tsvangirai withdrew claiming Mr Mugabe's soldiers had killed opposition supporters.Mr Tsvangirai said the African Union resolution effectively did not recognise Mr Mugabe's election.At a press conference, Mr Tsvangirai also said his party, the MDC, should be recognised as the "legitimate government" of Zimbabwe because it received the majority of votes at the first election.Earlier Mr Mugabe had welcomed the African Union's call for a unity government and said he is ready to talk to the opposition.But Mr Tsvangirai said any talks would be meaningless unless the AU sent a permanent envoy to expand mediation efforts led by South African President Thabo Mbeki.The election in Zimbabwe has provoked reaction from around the world.British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said it is time for Mr Mugabe to step down because he "has bloodied his hands."He said the "only credible" election was the earlier one, in which the opposition MDC "recorded a victory."And the European Commission has said it supports the AU's call, but it said any transitional government in Zimbabwe must include Mr Tsvangirai as premier.

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ITN | July 2, 2008

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