Negotiators are meeting in South Africa to try and revive Zimbabwe's crisis talks, which broke up two weeks ago.

The negotiations broke up over how to share power between Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, who both claim victory in the polls.

The BBC's Karen Allen says both sides appear to have hardened their positions during the hiatus.

President Mugabe says he will form a government alone, while opposition MPs this week jeered him in public.

Deputy South African Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad said he hoped the negotiation would lead to the "finalisation of... outstanding matters".

Before the talks broke up earlier this month, both sides agreed that Mr Tsvangirai would be named prime minister but they could not agree on how to divide powers between him and Mr Mugabe.

See the breakdown of parliamentary seats

Mr Tsvangirai wants Mr Mugabe to become a ceremonial figure, while the ruling Zanu-PF party wants the president to retain most powers, such as appointing ministers and the security forces.

The opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) says that if Mr Mugabe names a cabinet unilaterally, that would scupper the talks.

The negotiations between senior officials from both parties are taking place at a secret location near the South African capital, Pretoria.

South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki has been charged with mediating a solution to Zimbabwe's political crisis.

On Tuesday, MDC MPs heckled and jeered Mr Mugabe when he formally opened parliament against their wishes.

The MDC has a majority in parliament and its chairman Lovemore Moyo was elected speaker of parliament on Monday.

Following the March elections, Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF lost its majority in the House of Assembly for the first time since independence in 1980.

Mr Tsvangirai won the first presidential round in March, before pulling out of a June run-off, citing a campaign of violence against his supporters.

The MDC says some 200 people were killed and 200,000 forced from their homes.


Author: BBC