The presidents of South Africa and Mozambique lead a new regional push for a power-sharing government in Zimbabwe today.
A unity government, delayed over the distribution of cabinet posts, is seen as the best chance of preventing total economic collapse in Zimbabwe, where prices double every day and more than 2,000 people have died in a cholera epidemic.
Yesterday, however, both sides appeared entrenched in their positions.
President Robert Mugabe said the opposition MDC should accept the deal signed in September or end talks over its implementation, state media reported.
But the MDC's executive committee said it would not join a unity government until all its demands, including the equitable distribution of cabinet jobs with Mugabe's Zanu-PF, were met.
The MDC called for "finality" in the dialogue, "either in success or in failure, because Zimbabweans cannot continue to be arrested by an inconclusive process," a statement said.
South African President Kgalema Motlanthe, who chairs the Southern African Development Community (SADC), will lead a delegation, including Mozambique's President Armando Guebuza and former South African President Thabo Mbeki, in today's talks in Zimbabwe.
The latest meetings follow Mr Mugabe hinting there would be no further talks with the opposition after the this round.
"This is the occasion when it's either they accept or it's a break. After all this is an interim agreement. If they have any issues they deem outstanding, they can raise them after they come into the inclusive government," Mr Mugabe was quoted as saying.
Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai arrived back in the country on Saturday, the first time he has been in Zimbabwe since November. He has spent much of the time in neighbouring Botswana.
Mr Tsvangirai won a presidential election last March but by too few votes for an outright victory. He pulled out of the subsequent run-off, citing violence against MDC supporters.
Reuters