Tsvangirai Will Not Join Unity Government

The African Union on Tuesday urged the two sides to immediately begin negotiations with the goal of sharing power, and numerous news reports have said that such talks already have begun.

Yet Tsvangirai, speaking at his home in Harare, the capital, said there have been no meaningful discussions, and none will begin until the African Union appoints a new mediator to oversee the process. His party has repeatedly said that South African President Thabo Mbeki, who was appointed by regional leaders to negotiate a resolution to Zimbabwe's long-standing political stalemate, favors Mugabe.

Without a new mediation team, Tsvangirai said, his party would boycott any discussions with Mugabe's regime.

"The crisis in Zimbabwe requires urgent action," he said. "The violence, intimidation, hunger and suffering must be addressed as soon as possible. Zimbabweans cannot afford any more confusion or delays. Zimbabweans can no longer afford words that are not reinforced by actions."