Talks on constitution in Zimbabwe deadlocked, says opposition

ZIMBABWE’S main opposition party said last night that talks with President Robert Mugabe’s government on a constitution were in a deadlock.

Mr Mugabe’s ruling ZANU-PF party and two factions of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) are holding talks brokered by the Southern African Development Community, which has asked South African President Thabo Mbeki to mediate to combat an economic and political crisis.

ZANU-PF and the opposition have agreed on the need for a constitution, amendment of tough security and media laws and an end to political violence to ensure elections, scheduled for 2008, will be fair.