Power Sharing Talks Still Stalled in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe's president and opposition factions wrangled over power-sharing Monday. However, they made no progress despite the presence of southern African leaders who pressed for a resolution to the months long stalemate. It was after more than 12 hours of talk produced no agreement, that the deadlock was referred to a special summit of the Southern African Development Community to be held next week. Tomaz Salamao, executive secretary of the regional block told this to reporters. He said the meeting would be attended by leaders of the group's nations tomorrow either in South Africa or Botswana.

Zimbabwe President

President Robert Mugabe refused Tuesday to give into pressure from Africa and the West. He said the would can shout as loud as they like but he would not cancel this week's runoff election even though his opponent quit the race. The opposition is headed by Morgan Tsvangirae, who quit the presidential contest and sought shelter in the Dutch Embassy. South Africa's ruling party issued a tough worded statement calling on Mugabe's government to stop "riding roughshod" over their opposition. There was a report in the Times of London that Britain has drawn up contingency plans for deploying troops in Zimbabwe to resolve a humanitarian crisis and to evacuate British nationals and their dependents. That did not make the African national Congress happy and they warned against international intervention after hearing the report.

World Condemnation Of Zimbabwe Grows

President Robert Mugabe faced deeper international isolation Wednesday with African states demanding that a discredited runoff election be postponed and anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela rebuking the Zimbabwe leader for the first time. Tougher sanctions, sporting bans and economic boycotts could be next. World support may build for opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, who called Wednesday for talks on power sharing. Regional heads of state from southern Africa met in Swaziland and said Friday's runoff should be postponed until conditions permited a free and fair vote. President Bush said the runoff election appears to be a "sham", joining the international condemnation of Mugabe's actions.

Africa - Envoy Urges Toucher Stance

The top U.S. envoy for Africa urged the international community to take a tougher stance against Zimbabwe's longtime leader Robert Mugabe. Zimbabwe's electoral commission said it was getting closer to releasing the results of the presidential vote one month after the election. The most immediate priority was to halt increasing violence against opposition supporters, an apparent attempt to intimidate people ahead of a possible election runoff.

Last Rhodesian Prime Minister Dies

Ian Smith, age 88, ruled the country now known as Zimbabwe. He was the last white prime minister whose attempt to resist black rule dragged the country now known as Zimbabwe into isolation and civil war. He has now died. He recently suffered a stroke and died at a clinic near Cape Town, South Africa, where he spent his final years with his family and long time friend, Sam Whaley, who was a senator in the former Rodesia.

Zimbabwe Running Out of Bread

Reports from Zimbabwe say bakeries have run out of flour and there will be no bread in the foreseeable future. The Agriculture Minister has confirmed that this year's wheat harvest yield of 145,000 tons is only one third of the country's requirements. The agriculture minister is quoted as blaming the shortages on the failings of what he called the "new farmers" created by the land reforms. Last week, the government announced it would import l00,000 tons of wheat. But even at that, it would still leave Zimbabwe short of its 400,000 ton target for this year.

No pressure on Mugabe From Summit

South African leaders are putting no public pressure on Zimbabwe's President, Robert Mugabe, to solve his country's dire political and economic crises. After a two-day conference in Zambia's capital, Lusaka, delegates said only that they welcomed progress in talks between Zimbabwe's rival politicians. The leaders said Mr. Mugabe, who attended the summit, was not directly asked about the crisis in his country. Inflation stands at about 4,500% in Zimbabwe and food shortages are common.