Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe said today he expected a unity government to be formed by the end of this week after an impasse following the signature of an outline deal with the opposition.
"We discussed the ministries before I left. Only four remain, but there is no deadlock. We will be setting up government this week, towards the end of the week," Mr Mugabe told reporters when he returned home from a UN General Assembly meeting.
Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai said on Saturday that a deadlock in power-sharing talks with Mr Mugabe could be overcome.
A deadlock over the allocation of cabinet posts has dimmed hopes that a power-sharing deal between Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai would bring a quick solution to Zimbabwe's economic and political crisis.
Mr Tsvangirai's party is expected to get 13 cabinet posts in the new government, Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF 15, and Arthur Mutambara's breakaway MDC faction three.
Reuters