Zimbabwe rival parties envisage time frame for talks

HARARE, July 21 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwe ruling ZANU-PF and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change are expected to complete in two weeks a dialogue on ending the country's political crisis, according to a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) they signed here Monday.

"It is envisaged that the dialogue will be completed within a period of two weeks from the date of signing of this MOU," said the MOU.

"Each Party will issue a statement condemning the promotion and use of violence and call for peace in the country and shall take all measures necessary to ensure that the structures and institutions it controls are not engaged in the perpetration of violence," it said.

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai signed the document in Harare's Rainbow Towers Hotel.

South African President Thabo Mbeki, who mediated the deal, witnessed the signing ceremony, which constitutes a major breakthrough in the development of ending the southern African country's political crisis.

Mugabe, leader of the ZANU-PF, was declared winner of the June 27 presidential run-off by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, a result rejected by Tsvangirai, who received a leading number of votes in the first round of polls but failed to obtain an absolute majority.

Tsvangirai boycotted the run-off, citing various reasons, including political violence.