Thabo Mbeki has agreed to stay on as mediator in Zimbabwe's power-sharing talks despite being ousted as South African president, his spokesman said today.
Mr Mbeki's role had been thrown into doubt after his ruling ANC forced him to resign last month, shortly after he had negotiated a breakthrough framework agreement for Zimbabwe in mid-September.
"He will resume as soon as it is practically possible," spokesman Mukoni Ratshitanga said.
Zimbabwe's opposition MDC says only mediation can break a deadlock in talks on forming a cabinet.
Pressure for Mr Mbeki to return as mediator has grown as Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF and the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) have remained far apart over how to carve up cabinet posts.
ZANU-PF said this week it did not see any immediate need for mediation.
But Patrick Chinamasa, chief ZANU-PF negotiator in the talks, said on Friday the party welcomed Mr Mbeki's continued mediation.
"We are obviously happy that he will continue in that role," he said.
Reuters