Special report on elections in Zimbabwe

HARARE - Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe officially
opened parliament on Tuesday and said there was "every expectation"
that all parties would agree to a power-sharing deal.

"Landmark agreements have been concluded, with every
expectation that everyone will sign up, " said Mugabe, who was
heckled by opposition MDC parliamentarians when he started
addressing parliament.

Zimbabwe's main opposition Movement for Democratic Change
(MDC) party won the vote for parliament speaker, gaining one of
the most powerful positions in Zimbabwean politics for the first
time since independence in 1980 in a blow to Mugabe.
 

The MDC has protested against Mugabe's plans to open
parliament, saying it would hamper talks on forming a unity
government. The MDC speaker, Lovemore Moyo, could boycott the
opening, causing embarrassment for Mugabe and raising doubts
about whether the negotiations can continue.
 

Morgan Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change said it
might attend the opening of parliament out of respect for the
new speaker but it did not recognise Mugabe as the country's
president.
 

ZANU-PF won a vote for the presidency of the upper house of
parliament, the Senate -- where it has a majority -- meaning it
can block legislation passed by parliament.
 

Negotiations between ZANU-PF and the MDC have stalled over
what the opposition says is Mugabe's refusal to give up
executive power after 28 years in office.
 

The deadlock, in spite of strong regional and international
pressure for a deal, has dampened hopes of an agreement that
could end the political crisis and revive the economy.
 

Political analysts say that although the talks on how to
share power look doomed for now, they are likely to resume in
the coming weeks because both Mugabe and Tsvangirai are under
intense pressure to reach a settlement.
 

Arthur Mutambara, leader of the smaller, breakaway faction
of the MDC, could emerge as the kingmaker.
 

Mugabe's party lost control of parliament in March elections
for the first time since independence from Britain, winning 99
seats, but Tsvangirai's party only won 100 seats so does not
have an absolute majority either.
 

That leaves control in the hands of Mutambara's breakaway
faction, which has 10 seats. There is one independent.