Robert Mugabe 'negotiating with Zimbabwe opposition about exit'

Times [UK]:

Intensive diplomatic efforts were under way tonight to secure a face-saving exit for Robert Mugabe after 28 years as President of Zimbabwe.

His closest cohorts informed him last night that he had failed to win an outright victory in the country’s weekend presidential poll.

Despite tampering with the results from the countrywide elections, the Zimbabwean Electoral Commission was set to announce that the main opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, had taken 48 per cent of the vote, against 42 per cent for the 84-year-old incumbent.

The two men would therefore have to face a run-off poll in three weeks' time that Mr Mugabe has no hope of winning. "He considers this to be a huge insult, he is a proud man and needs an exit strategy," said a source close to the talks.

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