HARARE (Reuters) - Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai and the Zimbabwe government both denied on Tuesday that they were in talks to arrange the resignation of President Robert Mugabe.
"There is no discussion and this is just a speculativestory," Tsvangirai told a news conference.
Deputy Information Minister Bright Matonga told the BBC:"There is no deal. There is no need for a deal...there are nonegotiations whatsoever because we are waiting for thepresidential results"
Asked about widespread media reports that a deal had beenreached for Mugabe to step down, Tsvangirai said: "What deal?Let's not be influenced by speculation."
He added: "There is no way we would enter into any dealbefore the ZEC (Zimbabwe Electoral Commission) announces afinal result"
Tsvangirai said he expected to win an absolute majority inthe election, despite ruling ZANU-PF party and independentprojections showing him beating Mugabe but falling short of therequired 51 percent to avoid a runoff.
(Reporting by Stella Mapenzauswa and MacDonald Dzirutwe;Editing by Barry Moody)
