Reporters from some foreign media organisations were refused entry into the closed-door talks between President Thabo Mbeki, Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, Malawi President Bakili Muluzi and President Robert Mugabe.
The three visiting African leaders were on their way for a separate meeting with Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change in Zimbabwe.
No statement has been issued so far by the various leaders on the issues discussed on Monday.
The African leaders met Mugabe, for intense negotiations aimed at ending the political chaos and violence that has crippled the nation for three years.
The refusal of some foreign media organisations getting access to the talks was seen as embarrassing for Presidents Mbeki and Obasanjo.
They had argued earlier that a lessening of restrictions on media, particularly foreign media, was a sign that Mugabe was committed to reform and that Zimbabwe’s suspension from the Commonwealth should be lifted.
After meeting Mugabe, the three presidents returned to their hotel to meet Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change.
Police arrested at least 20 demonstrators outside the gates of the hotel who carried placards and banners blaming Mugabe’s Zanu-PF party for the crisis, claiming women were victims of torture and insisting that Mugabe must go.
None of the presidents saw the arrests or the demonstration that was cleared before they returned to the hotel.
Speaking to reporters before leaving Malawi, President Muluzi said the visit was intended to encourage ”internal dialogue” between different Zimbabwean factions.
”It is not a secret that Zimbabwe is facing very serious economic and political problems and I think it is our responsibility to assist when a neighbour in a situation like that arises,” he said.
President Mugabe (79) who led the nation to independence in 1980, narrowly defeated Tsvangirai in presidential polls last year that independent observers said were deeply flawed.
The opposition, along with Britain, the European Union and the United States, refused to accept the results, saying voting was rigged and influenced by violence and intimidation mainly against opposition supporters.
The MDC has criticised African leaders for recognising Mugabe’s re-election amid state-sponsored political violence and shielding him from international censure.
The new mediation efforts come ahead of a trip to southern Africa by Walter Kansteiner, the US state department’s top Africa official.
The Herald newspaper, a government mouthpiece, said in an editorial today that Mugabe’s foes hoped the talks would lead to his retirement and implied the government feared a possible attack from US and British forces, an implication both nations have repeatedly denied.
”There is trepidation … about the timing of the visit in view of the pronounced positions of the British and American governments over regime change in Zimbabwe following their successful invasion and occupation of Iraq,” it said.
Talks between the MDC and Mugabe’s party, mediated by Nigeria and South Africa, ended in a stalemate last year.
Mugabe said last month he would only meet with Tsvangirai if the opposition recognised his re-election and dropped a court case challenging the result, conditions the MDC has previously rejected.
The opposition and main trade union have shut down most of the economy with two national anti-government strikes since mid-March.
Both organisations have vowed to continue with strikes, demonstrations and ”passive resistance” against Mugabe’s rule.
Zimbabwe is suffering its worst economic crisis since independence. Inflation has soared to a record 228%, unemployment is nearly 70% and Zimbabweans are facing acute shortages of hard currency, food, gasoline, medicines and other essential imports.
More than 200 people have been killed in political violence since 2000 and thousands of others, mostly opposition supporters, have been arrested, tortured and driven from their homes, rights groups say. – Guardian Unlimited Â