Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe was set to meet opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai today to try to break a deadlock over cabinet posts threatening a crucial power-sharing deal, a senior government official said.
Arthur Mutambara, leader of a smaller faction of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), was also due to attend the meeting at Mugabe's State House offices in Harare, he said.
"The principals will be meeting today in an effort to resolve the outstanding issues," a senior official close to the talks said.
The official declined to comment on when an agreement was expected or whether there was mounting pressure from former South African President Thabo Mbeki - who is mediating in the Zimbabwe crisis - to form a government.
"I don't think we should be speculating. An agreement will be reached when the outstanding issues have been resolved," he said.
Officials from both Mr Tsvangirai's main MDC party and Mr Mutambara's faction declined to comment on the talks.
Talks between Mr Mugabe's ruling ZANU-PF and the MDC have reached an impasse over who will control key ministries in a unity government to be established under the Sept. 15 power-sharing deal.
A meeting between Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai on Tuesday failed to lead to a breakthrough, raising fears the deal could break down.