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Zimbabwe's Mugabe, Tsvangirai Fail to Break Deadlock in Talks

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Zimbabwe's main opposition party says President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai have failed to break a deadlock on forming a power-sharing government.

A spokesman for the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), Nelson Chamisa, says the two men met Tuesday but remained divided on the make-up of the ministries in a unity government.

Chamisa says Mr. Mugabe wants his ruling party (ZANU-PF) to control all of the top ministries, including finance, home affairs and defense.

Chamisa called for the African Union to intervene.

On Monday, President Mugabe said he expects a new power-sharing government to be formed by the end of this week and denied a deadlock exists in talks with the opposition over Cabinet posts. He said only four ministry posts remain.

Mr. Mugabe and Mr. Tsvangirai signed a historic accord September 15 in which Mr. Mugabe will remain Zimbabwe's president and Mr. Tsvangirai will become prime minister. But talks on a power-sharing deal have stalled in recent days over the assignment of Cabinet posts.

Mr. Tsvangirai has said a power-sharing government must be formed within days to avert a humanitarian crisis in the country.

Zimbabwe has been without an official government for months following disputed presidential elections. Mr. Tsvangirai won the most votes in the first round, but pulled out of the run-off because of state-sponsored violence against his supporters.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.

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