Zimbabwe power-sharing talks in third day

HARARE, Zimbabwe, Aug. 12 (UPI) -- Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai entered their third day of power-sharing talks Tuesday with no settlement in sight.

Mugabe said earlier the talks were blocked but indicated the obstacles could be overcome, the BBC reported.

In the meantime, Mugabe awarded a medal to the chief of the Zimbabwe's election commission, a body that sustained worldwide criticism for failing to produce a fair presidential election earlier this year.

Mugabe ended up winning a one-man runoff after Tsvangirai pulled out of the race when more than 100 opposition party supporters were slain.

South African President Thabo Mbeki has been serving as the mediator in the talks, which reportedly envision Tsvangirai serving as prime minister of a large cabinet split between both sides, and Mugabe being relegated to a figurehead presidency.

Zimbabwean journalist Brian Hungwe told the BBC the talks have bogged down and seem to be floundering over details of the power-sharing agreement.