A regional summit aimed at pushing Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe and the opposition to implement a power-sharing deal has made no progress.
An official of opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change said 'We are worlds apart. If we were (inches) apart, we are now miles apart.'
A deal between the two side signed last September was seen as a chance to prevent an economic collapse.
But Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai remain unable to agree on control of cabinet posts, and neither side shows any sign of compromise.
Western leaders want Mr Mugabe to step down and a democratic government to embrace economic reforms before billions of dollars in aid is offered, but Mugabe has refused.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said today she was 'very concerned' by Mr Mugabe's refusal to reach a deal.
Regional leaders are holding their fifth summit aimed at breaking the deadlock in Pretoria.
Prices in Zimbabwe are doubling every day and cholera has killed nearly 2,900 people since August.
EU tightens sanctions
Meanwhile, the EU has tightened sanctions on the Mugabe government in growing frustration about human rights abuses and the political situation.
EU foreign ministers, meeting in Brussels, made the decision to add some 26 more people close to the regime to its sanctions list.
The move brings the number on the list to 203.
The number of companies whose assets in Europe must be frozen was increased to 40 and for the first time European-based firms are included.
All 18 of the European company names added are based on British territory, including Jersey, the Isle of Man and the British Virgin Islands.
