Zimbabwe's Mugabe, opposition leader sign deal paving way for talks on ending political crisis

HARARE, Zimbabwe — Zimbabwe's longtime president and his bitter opposition foe met Monday — for the first time in a decade — to sign an agreement paving the way for immediate talks on resolving the country's protracted political crisis.

President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai signed the breakthrough deal committing both sides to creating a "genuine viable, permanent and sustainable solution" within two weeks.

The talks will begin Thursday in Pretoria, the South African capital, according to an opposition official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

The deal — which comes nearly three months after Zimbabwe's disputed March presidential election — also calls for preventing violence, a new constitution and restoring an economy shattered by Mugabe's government policies. There was no mention in the framework of sharing power.

The leaders called it an important first step toward resolving a standoff that has plunged a country already suffering economically into a deadly political crisis. More than 120 people have been killed, thousands injured and tens of thousands forced from their homes, rights groups say.

Mugabe said the framework will "chart a new way" for the troubled country. But the longtime leader, who in the past has accused Tsvangirai of being a puppet controlled by the West, urged negotiators to resist influence from Europe and the United States. He called on all involved to be "masters of our own destiny."

A jubilant Tsvangirai, beaming as he signed the deal, pledged that he will be "putting the interests of Zimbabwe at the forefront."

The deal brokered by South African President Thabo Mbeki comes amid mounting international pressure on Mugabe, who opposition leaders and rights groups accuse of masterminding a campaign of state-sponsored election violence.

Tsvangirai, leader of the Movement for Democratic Change, garnered the most votes in the March election — buoyed by Zimbabweans frustrated by government policies that have left shelves bare of basic goods — but not enough to win outright.

As elections officials stalled on setting a date for the runoff, the opposition and rights activists say the ruling ZANU-PF party embarked on a campaign of intimidation to ensure the increasingly autocratic leader's victory.