Zimbabwe talks end in deadlock

Talks between Robert Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai faltered yesterday over the Zimbabwe president's proposal that a coalition cabinet report to him. Tsvangirai has demanded that political power be shifted to him as the executive prime minister of a coalition government.

The second round of gruelling talks, a 14-hour session that began on Sunday on Zimbabwe's Heroes' Day - which commemorates those who died in the independence war - ended last night in a deadlock. Mugabe said he hoped differences would be "overcome" when negotiations resume today.

"The major hold-up is the refusal by Mugabe to cede his executive powers," one source told the Daily Telegraph. "He is only agreeing to a nominal prime minister post for Morgan Tsvangirai.

"There is a lot of pressure on Tsvangirai," one opposition official said. "People in the party are telling him that he cannot agree to a deal that does not recognise the people's will and democracy. [Mugabe] should not be allowed to keep power just because he terrorised the population into voting for him."