Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe said today that marathon power-sharing talks with the opposition were about 'little hurdles' and the rivals were reaching consensus on the way forward.
Mr Mugabe was set to resume talks later today with opposition leaders on a deal that could end a post-election political crisis and raise hopes of economic recovery.
The Zimbabwean leader told supporters at a rally in Harare that there was progress in talks with opposition Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai, and the leader of a breakaway MDC faction.
South African President Thabo Mbeki is mediating.
'We had a long night negotiating on some little hurdles and I thought I should raise my fist but he (Mr Mbeki) remained cool and said 'Let us continue talking',' Mr Mugabe said in a speech to honour those who died fighting in Zimbabwe's liberation war.
He has been in power since independence from Britain in 1980.
Negotiations began last month after Mr Mugabe's unopposed re-election in June in a poll condemned throughout the world and boycotted by Mr Tsvangirai because of attacks on his supporters.
The latest meeting ended after 14 hours early today.
Mr Tsvangirai declined to comment after the last session of talks.
Mr Mbeki's spokesman, Mukoni Ratshitanga, said the South African leader was returning home today but declined to say whether a deal was imminent or whether the talks could fail.
Both sides are under international pressure for a deal, particularly from neighbouring countries that fear the consequences of a total meltdown in Zimbabwe.
Economic collapse has already driven millions of Zimbabweans to seek work abroad.
