Mugabe's Party, MDC to Sign Deal on Talks
By VOA News
16 July 2008
Zimbabwe's ruling party and the opposition are expected to sign an agreement soon that could lead to substantial talks on ending the country's ongoing political crisis.
Officials from the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) said Wednesday the agreement would outline terms for talks. Opposition officials have not released details on the agreement or when it may be signed.
President Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF party and the MDC met last week to discuss conditions for the talks.
Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has insisted that conditions include an end to violence against his political supporters and the release of political prisoners.
Both Zimbabwe's ruling and opposition parties are under international pressure to resolve the country's political problems.
Mr. Mugabe was re-elected last month in a widely condemned runoff vote in which he was the only candidate.
Mr. Tsvangirai dropped out a few days before the election after many of his supporters were killed in violence he said was state-sponsored.
This week a court in Zimbabwe released 14 opposition activists charged with committing political violence.
MDC officials said the activists were freed after the state failed to produce its key witness.
The MDC says more than 1,000 other activists and officials remain jailed on what party officials term "trumped up" charges alleging political violence.
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