Diplomats: Zimbabwe talks to get under way

By MICHELLE FAUL, Associated Press Writer
1 hour, 10 minutes ago



PRETORIA, South Africa - Diplomats say talks between Zimbabwe's ruling and opposition parties will soon get under way in South Africa's capital.

Tuesday's talks in Pretoria come a day after President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai agreed on the conditions to meeting. The talks aim to set up a power-sharing deal to end their country's crisis after a violent, widely condemned presidential runoff in June.

The diplomats say the negotiations will kick off with only mediators. They spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of angering their sources.

Parties to the Zimbabwean agreement have given themselves two weeks to complete negotiations. And they have signed a clause promising not to communicate about them with the media.