The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Harare

South African President Thabo Mbeki was meeting with Zimbabwe's president, following an earlier meeting with the main Zimbabwean opposition leader.

Sunday's meetings are part of Mbeki's efforts to end a deadly political standoff in Zimbabwe by bringing President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai together in a coalition government. Zimbawbe held disputed elections in June.

The Sunday Mail, a government mouthpiece, reports a power-sharing deal is imminent. But opposition officials refused to confirm the story.

Reporters saw Mbeki and Tsvangirai head into private talks first at a hotel in Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe. That meeting lasted about an hour and a half. Then Mbeki and Mugabe went into talks.