Mbeki: 'Zimbabwe talks reach milestone'

South African President Thabo Mbeki is heading to Zimbabwe, where the government today said coalition talks he is mediating between President Robert Mugabe’s party and the opposition have reached a “milestone”.

Mugabe spokesman George Charamba said President Mbeki will update party leaders on the progress their negotiators have made.

Charamba, quoted by state media today, did not elaborate on the milestone he said had been reached.

Mbeki is expected to leave Harare tomorrow.

The state-run Herald newspaper reported that negotiators of Mugabe’s party and the opposition returned to Harare from South Africa where talks began after they agreed on July 21 on a framework for their talks.