Tsvangirai challenges Mugabe to new election

Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai said yesterday his party would rather quit power-sharing talks than sign an unsatisfactory deal, and challenged President Robert Mugabe to call a new election.

"We are saying to him 'you can call another election under international supervision and let's see who is going to win that race'," he told a rally to celebrate the ninth anniversary of his Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

Mr Tsvangirai beat Mr Mugabe in a March 29 election but fell short of enough votes to avoid a June run-off, which was won by Mr Mugabe unopposed after Mr Tsvangirai pulled out, citing violence and intimidation against his supporters.

"We would rather have no deal than a bad deal," Mr Tsvangirai said.

The post-election talks are deadlocked over how to share executive power between Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai, putting off any chance of rescuing Zimbabwe from its economic collapse.

Mr Mugabe has said he will form a Cabinet with or without Mr Tsvangirai.

South African President Thabo Mbeki, mandated by regional countries to mediate in the Zimbabwe talks, is expected to arrive in Harare today. He has come under repeated fire for not being tough enough with Mr Mugabe.

Other southern African leaders have taken a hard line against Mr Mugabe. But he has refused to budge, and the MDC has made it clear it has little faith in Mr Mbeki as a mediator.

"President Mbeki is coming, but don't worry about him. He is not the one who is going to sign the agreement. He is going to have to persuade me to shift my position," Mr Tsvangirai told the rally in the city of Gweru in central Zimbabwe.

"But don't worry. One thing I will not do is to sell you out."

Zimbabweans hoped the election would usher in a new era of economic prosperity. Instead, there is no relief in sight from the world's highest annual inflation rate of over 11 million per cent and severe shortages of basic goods.

The election run-off was condemned around the world and drew toughened sanctions from Western countries, whose support is vital for reviving Zimbabwe's ruined economy.

A smaller, breakaway faction of the MDC, led by Arthur Mutambara, is the third party in negotiations aimed at forming a national unity government.