Minister: Mugabe party agrees to mediation

HARARE, Zimbabwe, Oct. 10 (UPI) -- Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe's political party has agreed to have South Africa serve as a mediator in power-sharing negotiations, a minister says.

Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa said Mugabe supports mediation for the deadlocked negotiations involving Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai and former South Africa President Thabo Mbeki, the BBC said Friday.

"The three leaders agreed to call in the facilitator to assist in resolving the outstanding issues," Chinamasa said.

Mugabe and Tsvanigirai reached a tentative power-sharing deal last month, but several key issues have remained up for debate.

MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa confirmed top leaders met Friday to discuss those remaining issues and the possibility of mediation to ease the political deadlock.

The BBC said the political dispute comes as Zimbabwe is mired in an economic crisis. The country's inflation rate reached 231,000,000 percent as of Thursday, the British broadcaster reported.