The power-sharing process that has been unfolding in Zimbabwe for months seemed close to collapse Monday after a summit of the Southern African Development Community that was intended to find a solution to a stalemate over the allocation of cabinet posts.
The MDC considers the Home Affairs Ministry, which controls the national police force, to be a critical counterbalance to the Defense Ministry, under Mr. Mugabe's firm control.
Tsvangirai, prime minister-designate in the proposed national unity government stipulated by a Sept. 15 power-sharing agreement, rejected SADC's solution as unworkable given what he described as Mr. Mugabe's "utter contempt" for the MDC - in practice still Zimbabwe's opposition party though it won a parliamentary majority in March general elections.
Tsvangirai in remarks immediately after the release of the summit communique late Sunday, expressed bitterness that Southern African leaders had not been more decisive.
Mr. Mugabe welcomed the decision and said Monday that he would form a government "as soon as possible." The next move by Tsvangirai's MDC formation was not clear. Its national executive and national council were to meet later this week to discuss strategy.
The U.S. government on Monday expressed disappointment at SADC's failure to resolve the deadlock. A U.S. State Department spokesman said Mr. Mugabe's compromise offer was another attempt to "subvert the will" of the Zimbabwean people, and that new sanctions could be imposed if Mr. Mugabe fails to give the MDC a meaningful share in power.
