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Momentum builds to address crisis in Zimbabwe

Momentum is building to start South African-brokered talks to resolve Zimbabwe's deepening crisis, opposition officials said.

But the opposition Movement for Democratic Change has again refused demands that it recognize Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe as the nation's legitimately elected leader before talks can proceed. That condition stalled two previous initiatives.

The opposition says it has been robbed in parliamentary and presidential elections by violent intimidation of voters and ballot rigging. The opposition also has demanded the repeal of sweeping media and security laws, electoral reforms and an end to state-orchestrated political violence.

Both main opposition parties were now considering setting aside their demands in a bid to get to the negotiating table, where the demands could likely be tackled later, opposition officials said.

"There must be an environment where there are no conditions and no issue is taboo in negotiations," said one official who asked not to be identified.

South Africa has insisted that none of the likely participants in talks, including representatives of civic groups, air their negotiating positions through the media. It has enforced a news blackout, saying the new initiative will not be conducted through the media.

South African President Thabo Mbeki, appointed in March by the Southern African Development Community to mediate on Zimbabwe, was given until the end of next month to return with concrete proposals on narrowing the wide differences between Mugabe's ruling party and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change.

"The pressure is on. The situation here is impacting on the whole region and President Mbeki has a deadline to meet," the official said.

Mugabe's fellow African leaders have heard repeated calls to do more to press Mugabe to embark on reforms. But at the summit at which Mbeki -- who has long advocated quiet diplomacy over confrontation with Mugabe -- was appointed to mediate, the Southern African Development Community voiced full support for Mugabe.

At another regional summit in Kenya on Wednesday, Mugabe had harsh words for his opposition and his critics in the West, and was applauded by fellow African leaders.
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