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  • ZIMBABWE: South African President Thabo Mbeki visits Zimbabwe

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ZIMBABWE: South African President Thabo Mbeki visits Zimbabwe

South African President Thabo Mbeki says he is "very confident" that mediation efforts between Zimbabwe's government and opposition would produce a solution to the country's political crisis. South African President Thabo Mbeki said on Thursday (November 22) that he was "very confident" that mediation efforts between Zimbabwe's government and opposition would produce a solution to the country's political crisis. Analysts and Western diplomats have cast doubt on Mbeki's chances of success in breaking the deadlock between the ruling ZANU-PF of Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe and the opposition, after regional leaders appointed Mbeki as mediator earlier this year. An upbeat Mbeki, who has been criticised for being too soft on Mugabe's embattled government, said he was optimistic of a positive outcome. "They (the talks) have gone very well. I came to Harare today to see the president and the leadership of the MDC so we can reflect on where we are and to report to them as facilitator how the talks have gone," Mbeki said after meeting the two sides. Regional leaders appointed Mbeki earlier this year to mediate between the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and the ruling ZANU-PF party ahead of elections next year. The MDC has accused Mugabe's government of rigging past elections and called for democratic reforms before the 2008 poll. The party has threatened to boycott the vote if those demands are not met. Mugabe dismissed charges of a government crackdown on the opposition at a briefing with Mbeki. "It's the usual accusation which the MDC makes. It is one basis they have for informing their friends, whoever they are," he told reporters after a meeting that lasted about an hour. The political stand-off has coincided with a devastating economic crisis seen in inflation of over 8,000 percent and severe shortages of food and fuel -- a situation critics blame on government mismanagement. Mugabe, however, accuses the West of conspiring to ruin his government as revenge for Zimbabwe's seizure of white-owned farms.

ITN Source | November 23, 2007Watch more videos from ITN Source

Tags:. .accuses. .accused. .accusation. .critics. .criticised











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