The New Nation - Internet Edition

AP, Harare

South Africa's foreign affairs spokesman says Zimbabwe's president and opposition leader will sign an agreement to hold power-sharing talks.

The agreement sets out conditions for talks to form a unity government to help resolve Zimbabwe's political and economic crisis.

Ronnie Mamoepa says the signing will take place in Harare on Monday afternoon in the presence of mediator South African President Thabo Mbeki. Mamoepa says the signing is "a positive step forward in the ongoing dialogue" to resolve Zimbabwe's political and economic crisis.

Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai won most votes in March elections but pulled out of a June runoff against President Mugabe because of escalating state-sponsored violence against his supporters.

Zimbabwe's ruling party and two factions of the opposition will sign a deal on Monday to enter formal talks to solve the country's political crisis, a senior government official said.

"Preparations are going on right now, and as far as I know the signing ceremony for the Memorandum of Understanding will take place around 3 p.m. (1300 GMT or 11 a.m. EDT) at the Sheraton and all the parties involved will be signing," the official said.