Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai said his party would rather quit power-sharing talks than sign an unsatisfactory deal and challenged President Robert Mugabe to call a new election.
‘We are saying to him you can call another election under international supervision and let's see who is going to win that race,’ he told a rally today.
Mr Tsvangirai beat Mr Mugabe in an election on 29 March but fell short of enough votes to avoid a June run-off, which was won by Mr Mugabe unopposed after Mr Tsvangirai pulled out, citing violence and intimidation against his supporters.
‘We would rather have no deal than a bad deal,’ he said.
The post-election talks are deadlocked over how to share executive power between Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai, putting off any chance of rescuing Zimbabwe from its economic collapse.
Mr Mugabe has said he will form a cabinet with or without Mr Tsvangirai.
South African President Thabo Mbeki, mandated by regional countries to mediate in the Zimbabwe talks, was expected to arrive in Harare tomorrow. He has come under repeated fire for not being tough enough with Mr Mugabe.
