Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe's war veteran allies are accusing opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai of stalling power-sharing talks on orders from Western powers.
War veterans, backed by the army and ruling party militants called green bombers, served as President Mugabe's political shock troops in his campaign to retain power in a widely condemned June election run-off which Morgan Tsvangirai boycotted over attacks on his supporters.
Jabulani Sibanda, Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association Chairman, said Mr Mugabe would never bow to what he called Mr Tsvangirai's attempts to grab more power in talks aimed at ending the crisis that has deepened since the election.
Morgan Tsvangirai said Mr Mugabe's ruling ZANU-PF was to blame for the stalemate.
Political tensions rose yesterday after Mr Tsvangirai said Mr Mugabe's decision to go ahead with opening parliament next week was a repudiation of the basis for talks and he suggested Robert Mugabe might have decided to abandon negotiations.
