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Mugabe swears in vice-presidents before talks

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has sworn in two vice-presidents ahead of talks on forming a cabinet, a government official said on Monday, a move that could further endanger power-sharing negotiations.

  • Agencies
  • Published: 19:02 October 13, 2008
  • Gulf News

  • Tsvangirai greets supporters at a rally in Harare. He said his party could walk away from a power-sharing deal he signed with Mugabe.
  • Image Credit: Reuters

Harare: Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has sworn in two vice-presidents ahead of talks on forming a cabinet, a government official said on Monday, a move that could further endanger power-sharing negotiations.

It follows Mugabe's allocation of important ministries to his ZANU-PF party at the weekend, angering the opposition. The MDC said it doubted mediation by former South African President Thabo Mbeki this week would get ZANU-PF to compromise.

A senior government official told reporters: "The two vice-presidents were sworn in this morning because their positions are not in dispute."

The European Union could step up sanctions on Zimbabwe unless Mugabe sticks to the terms of the accord.

"If the agreement is not applied we shall resume our sanctions and reinforce them," French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said in Luxembourg. France is EU president.

Existing EU sanctions include visa bans and asset freezes on top Zimbabwean officials including Mugabe.

Opposition Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai said on Sunday his party could walk away from a power-sharing deal he signed with Mugabe if Mbeki's latest mediation failed to end deadlock on dividing key ministries.

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