France/Zimbabwe

Tsvangirai calls on France to put pressure on Mugabe

Article published on the 2008-11-18 Latest update 2008-11-18 17:30 TU

Morgan Tsvangirai
( File Photo : AFP )

Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai is touring Europe in an attempt to drum up support on the power-sharing deal that has stalled. On Tuesday he met with French members of parliament and called on France to put pressure on President Mugabe to end the country's political deadlock.

 "We have said we are not walking away from the deal," Tsvangirai said outside French parliament in Paris on Tuesday. "But there are certain preconditions that must be addressed...it will stop at some point. We can't go to infinity," he added.

It has been two months since a power sharing deal was signed by the MDC and the ruling Zanu PF party. But the MDC has refused to join a unity government until all issues in power-sharing talks are resolved.

Zimbabwe's government says it is currently drafting an amendment to the constitution, which would allow President Robert Mugabe to form a government of national unity. According to the government, the amendment will be published soon after consultations with the two formations of the opposition MDC.

France has assured Tsvangirai of its full backing in terms of humanitarian aid, and has also pledged to put pressure on the UN and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

On Wednesday, Tsvangirai also met with the European Union Development Commissioner Louis Michel. The European Commission provided Zimbabwe with around 90 million euros in humanitarian aid in 2007, but all development aid to Mugabe's regime has been frozen.