Zimbabwe talks enter second day

South Africa is opposed to UN sanctions on Zimbabwe

Talks between Zimbabwe's ruling Zanu-PF party and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change have resumed in the South African capital, Pretoria.

On the first day of talks, the MDC set a series of pre-conditions for the opening of formal negotiations.

They include the release of more than 1,500 political prisoners and an expanded mediation team.

Meanwhile, the UN Security Council has delayed voting on a package of sanctions against Zimbabwe.

In a letter to the UN, the Zimbabwean government said any new sanctions risked starting a civil war in the country.

This is the first meeting between Zanu-PF and the MDC since June's run-off poll, which President Robert Mugabe won unopposed after the MDC pulled out because of violence.

PRE-CONDITIONS FOR TALKS MDC: End to political violence Release of supporters Resumption of aid Permanent AU envoy Swearing in of MPs Zanu-PF: Mugabe recognised as president Zimbabweans protest in UK

South Africa President Thabo Mbeki has been leading mediation efforts but was not at the talks on Friday, his spokesman Mukoni Ratshitanga told the AFP news agency.

However, the MDC says its team led by Secretary General Tendai Biti has left the talks, stressing this was always planned.

The discussions are believed to be continuing with a smaller MDC faction.

After news of the talks was leaked on Thursday, MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai issued a statement saying the talks did not amount to formal negotiations.

It is a first step, correspondents say, but Mr Tsvangirai insisted that MDC representatives were merely setting out the conditions under which talks could take place.

He added that nothing could happen while Mr Mugabe's ruling Zanu-PF party "continued state-sanctioned violence and repressive legislation", which he said was "designed to silence the Zimbabwean people".

Mr Tsvangirai also demanded an expanded mediation team that included a permanent African Union (AU) envoy.

Deep divide

Both the government and opposition in Zimbabwe are under pressure from the AU to start a process of dialogue on forming a government of national unity.

Last week, Mr Mugabe accepted the need for negotiations but demanded that he must first be recognised as president by the opposition.

Handel Mlilo, chief MDC representative in the US, says he is hopeful

The BBC's Peter Greste in Johannesburg says the fundamental gaps between the two sides remain as wide as ever, so the talks appear driven more by international pressure than any willingness to compromise.

Last weekend, Mr Tsvangirai refused to hold talks with Mr Mbeki and Mr Mugabe at Zimbabwe's State House, saying this would be tantamount to recognising his rival as president.

But MDC faction leader Arthur Mutambara did attend those talks and there are reports of disagreements between the two MDC groups at the Pretoria talks.

Apart from the pre-conditions, both sides have different understandings of what a government of national unity might look like.

Zanu-PF says Mr Mugabe must remain president, while the MDC want him to step down, with a transitional government to organise new elections.

Sanctions push

Meanwhile, the US and the UK are pushing for the UN Security Council to impose a travel ban and assets freeze on President Mugabe and 13 of his allies, as well as an arms embargo.

DRAFT SANCTIONS LIST Robert Mugabe, President Constantine Chiwenga, Defence Forces Commander Emmerson Mnangagwa, Rural Housing Minister Gideon Gono, Reserve Bank head Augustine Chihuri, Police chief Patrick Chinamasa, Justice Minister Perence Shiri, Air Force chief David Parirenyatwa, Health Minister Didymus Mutasa, Security and Lands Minister George Charamba, President's spokesman Paradzi Zimondi, Prison Service head Happyton Bonyongwe, Central Intelligence Organisation head Sydney Sekeremayi, Defence Minister Joseph Made, State Minister for Agricultural Engineering Source: Draft UN Security Council resolution G8 'revulsion' at Zimbabwe crisis Sanctions: How successful are they?

But a planned vote has been delayed, amid opposition from several African leaders, including Mr Mbeki.

He reportedly told G8 leaders earlier this week that UN sanctions could lead to civil war.

South Africa is currently on the UN Security Council but does not have the power of veto.

But Russia, which does have a veto, has also signalled doubts about imposing the sanctions.

Mr Tsvangirai won the first round of Zimbabwe's presidential elections on 29 March, but official results gave him less than the 50% share needed to avoid a run-off.

Since March, the opposition says 113 of its supporters have been killed, some 5,000 are missing and more than 200,000 have been forced from their homes.

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A special one-hour programme of BBC Focus on Africaexploring the political, economic and social prospects for Zimbabwe will be broadcast on Tuesday 15 July at 1500 GMT on the BBC World Service.