Mbeki has the backing of interim South African President Kgalema Motlanthe in his efforts to help Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe and Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai break a negotiations deadlock on a new unity government for the African nation, the BBC reported Saturday.

Mbeki resigned last month amid controversial claims of political interference in a corruption case against African National Congress party leader Jacob Zuma.

Meanwhile in Zimbabwe, where Mbeki last month brokered a deal for a government that would see Mugabe retain the presidency and Tsvangirai become prime minister, negotiations have stalled because Mugabe's ZANU-PF party is demanding to control all key ministries, MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa told the BBC.

ZANU-PF is insisting that no outside mediation is needed in the dispute.