Mobs of uniformed but unarmed soldiers followed by hundreds of civilians went on the rampage in Harare late Monday in the first serious unrest in Zimbabwe in a decade.

US President George W Bush on Saturday denounced Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe's "illegitimate regime" and called for a new government that would represent the will of the country's people.

Former US President Jimmy Carter said on Saturday that he and others, from The Elders group, planning a humanitarian mission in Zimbabwe had been refused entry to the impoverished African country.

Zimbabwe's main opposition party said on Friday that it will not join a unity government with President Robert Mugabe until the rivals resolve their differences over a power-sharing deal.

Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe looked set on Tuesday to push ahead with a new government, sidelining opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai after the latest failed regional mediation effort.

President Robert Mugabe said Monday a new Zimbabwe government would be formed "as quickly as possible" despite his rival Morgan Tsvangirai's rejection of a regional compromise on a power-sharing deal.

Zimbabwe's ruling party said it had considered sharing control of the powerful home affairs ministry, but that the opposition leader balked at the proposal, state media reported on Sunday.

African leaders failed to break the deadlock in forming a unity government in Zimbabwe, with a fight for control of the powerful home affairs ministry threatening to sink the power-sharing deal.

Six weeks ago, African leaders came to Harare to celebrate the signing of a power-sharing accord meant to end the country's political turmoil. On Monday they return to prevent the deal from falling apart.

Zimbabwe's opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai will attend a summit next week aimed at saving a troubled power-sharing accord.

Zimbabwe's opposition warned on Tuesday its leader might steer clear of another regional summit designed to savge a power-sharing accord, saying it had yet to decide whether to trust President Robert Mugabe.

The US State Department on Monday renewed threats of further sanctions against President Robert Mugabe's Zimbabwe if he does not respect a power-sharing deal with his rival Morgan Tsvangirai.

The summit aimed at ending the deadlock over a power-sharing deal in Zimbabwe on Monday suffered a setback after a stake-holder walked out of the "farcical" meeting to protest the absence of opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai.

Zimbabwe's opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai said on Saturday President Robert Mugabe had been totally intransigent on power-sharing proposals, after the two rivals asked neighbouring nations to help break their deadlock.

Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai began a fourth day of talks on Friday aimed at rescuing a power-sharing deal that has become mired in disputes over key cabinet posts.

Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe and rival Morgan Tsvangirai were set on Friday to resume power-sharing talks for a fourth day to end a spat on key cabinet posts holding up a new unity government.

Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe and his main political rival failed Wednesday to break their impasse on a power-sharing deal, but said their talks had made progress and would continue a third day.

Former South African leader Thabo Mbeki opened a second day of talks on Wednesday with Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe and his main rival to save a power-sharing deal that has floundered over cabinet posts.

Negotiators gathered in Zimbabwe's capital Harare on Tuesday for talks to break the deadlock in a power-sharing agreement, as lawmakers prepare for the first business session of the new opposition-dominated parliament.

Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe swore in his two vice presidents on Monday, a senior government official said, despite an ongoing dispute with the opposition over a power-sharing deal.

Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe farmed out key ministries in a new unity government to his party in defiance of a long-awaited power-sharing deal, amid opposition outrage on Saturday at the "giant act of madness".

Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe and opposition MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai met on Tuesday but failed to agree on a share-out of ministries in a power-sharing government, the opposition said.

Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe said Monday that a new unity government will be formed by the end of the week, denying a deadlock in talks with the opposition over key ministries.

Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe said on Monday a new unity government would be formed by the end of the week, denying a deadlock in talks with the opposition over key ministries.