Agreement

Zimbabwe president, rival agree to hold talks

Zimbabwe's embattled president and his opposition rival have agreed to hold talks to resolve the country's political and economic crisis within two weeks.

 President Robert Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai signed the deal in Harare on Monday nearly three months after Zimbabwe's disputed March presidential election.

Mugabe is urging negotiators to act without influence from Europe or the United States.

Tsvangirai says he'll be "putting the interests of Zimbabwe at the forefront."

The deal brokered by South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki comes amid international pressure following Mugabe's one-man presidential runoff last month.

Tsvangirai had pulled out of the runoff, citing deadly political violence against his supporters.

(Published by AP - july 21, 2008