Mbeki set for new Zimbabwe talks

Mr Mbeki has been mediating between the ruling party and opposition

South Africa's leader Thabo Mbeki is to travel to Zimbabwe for weekend talks with President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai.

South African newspapers are reporting that a power-sharing deal is close, with Mr Tsvangirai becoming PM.

The news comes as an investigation into mass rapes allegedly committed by militia loyal to Mr Mugabe during the election campaign was launched.

Aids-Free World wants to collect the evidence to be used in future trials.

It says that in the run-up to June's polls, women were subjected to a wide range of sexual violence as part of a campaign against the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

Crisis talks

Mr Mugabe won the presidential run-off in June after Mr Tsvangirai pulled out, saying there was a campaign of violence against his supporters.

I think that justice and peace are inextricable and that you don't have one without the other Aids-Free World's Stephen Lewis 'Raped for opposing Mugabe'

South Africa's department of foreign affairs confirmed that Mr Mbeki would be travelling to Zimbabwe on Saturday afternoon and returning on Sunday afternoon amid reports that a power-sharing deal was close.

He has been mediating between the country's ruling party and opposition.

Last month, the two rivals agreed to hold crisis talks after meeting for the first time in a decade.

The talks have been held at a secret location in South Africa and are subject to a media blackout.

South African newspapers are reporting that the power-sharing deal would see Mr Mugabe retaining the presidency and Mr Tsvangirai becoming prime minister with executive powers.

There has been no official comment on these reports, apart from statements from all sides that the talks have been progressing well.

'Horrific' abuses

Stephen Lewis, co-director of Aids-Free World, said that the group already had 53 cases of women prepared to come forward and testify and the true number of those affected could be in the hundreds or thousands.

Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai met for the first time in a decade last month

He told the BBC's Network Africa programme there was a "horrific series" of abuses.

Aid-Free World intends to preserve the evidence to be used at a later date by those seeking justice, he said.

"We have no doubt that the people at the top were involved in unleashing the militia - it is a command situation."

Mr Lewis said he knew there were concerns that the investigation could affect the power-sharing talks.

"There are always risks when you pursue people - we have not said that we are pursuing Mugabe, we are seeking justice for the women.

"I think that justice and peace are inextricable and that you don't have one without the other and that it is a piece of sophistry to pretend that they are somehow separate."