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Mbeki meets ZANU-PF leaders in Zimbabwe

South African President Thabo Mbeki was to visit Zimbabwe yesterday, to talk with leaders of the ruling ZANU-PF party as well as the opposition.

Mbeki was to visit Zimbabwe to help find a solution to its political and economic challenges, a statement issued late Wednesday night by the Department of Foreign Affairs said.

Mbeki was expected to return to South Africa the same day.

Mbeki has been mediating negotiations between Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe's government and the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) for nearly a year at the urging of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), a regional grouping of 14 nations.

"President Mbeki will visit Zimbabwe within the context of the mandate bestowed upon him by SADC in March 2007 to assist the government and people of Zimbabwe to find a political solution to their political challenges," the foreign affairs department said.

Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern suggested this week there had been a breakthrough in the negotiations and an agreement that would pave the way for free elections in March in Zimbabwe was only days away.

Ahern made his comments to journalists following a briefing by Mbeki in the South African capital Pretoria.

South African Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Aziz Pahad told reporters in Pretoria on Wednesday it seemed that all substantial issues in the Zimbabwe talks had been resolved and it was the timing of the agreement that was in question.

Prospects of a deal have bolstered hopes that Zimbabwe will be able to hold elections, due in March, and take steps to pull the once prosperous nation out of a deep economic slide.

Zimbabweans are struggling with inflation of more than 8,000 percent and chronic shortages of food and fuel.

Thousands cross illegally into South Africa every day to look for food and work.

The discussions between Mugabe's ZANU-PF and the MDC have stalled several times, prompting some in the MDC to demand that the elections be delayed.

The MDC said on Wednesday it was planning to protest next week against the economic situation and to press for a new constitution it says would guarantee that elections are free from cheating and fair.
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