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Zimbabwe crisis talks adjourned
BBC News
June 20, 2007

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6223708.stm

Talks in South Africa between the Zimbabwean government and the opposition have been adjourned. It is the first time a government team has had direct talks with Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) officials. There is no word on whether the talks - facilitated by President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa - are making progress. Negotiators will return to South Africa on Friday for another round of talks lasting about four days, according to an MDC spokesman. He said the plan was for this pattern of meetings to be repeated during the coming weeks. President Mbeki is expected to issue a progress report by the end of this month. Mr Mbeki was asked by fellow southern African leaders to mediate in an effort to resolve Zimbabwe's political and economic crisis. The MDC spokesman said both sides were still "trying to break the ice", and there was understandable caution. MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai said that next year's polls were the focus of the talks. "We are bit anxious [about] what needs to be done to create the conditions for free and fair elections," Mr Tsvangirai told AP news agency whilst on a tour of Europe. "We may actually be running out [of time] for it."

There are reports that political repression in Zimbabwe is on the rise. Amnesty International says the security forces are increasing their attacks on human rights groups and student opposition leaders inside Zimbabwe. On Monday, it was reported that the bodies of two opposition activists had been found, after being abducted earlier this month. Student leaders have also been rounded up and beaten. Amnesty International says that in this climate there is little hope that the polls will be free and fair. President Robert Mugabe, 83, has already made it clear that he wants to stand for re-election. MDC demands include: International control of the elections; The millions of Zimbabweans abroad be allowed to vote; No voters' roll - anyone with an identity card to vote. The economy is in meltdown, with the world highest inflation rate - 3,700% - and just one adult in five in work. Last week, a report said the economy would collapse within six months.

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