MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai insisted on Tuesday that talk of a unity government with Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF was premature.

Tsvangirai's comments came during a press conference in Harare as the party's negotiating team was meeting its counterparts from Zanu-PF in Pretoria, South Africa for talks. Newsreel could not establish the agenda for the talks. It's reported that Tsvangirai's key lieutenants, Secretary General Tendai Biti and Deputy Treasurer Elton Mangoma, were meeting Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa and Social Welfare Minister Nicholas Goche from Zanu-PF.

But Bright Matonga, Zanu PF's Deputy Information Minister, told reporters on Tuesday, that preliminary talks on sharing power were under way in South Africa.

Speaking in Johannesburg, South Africa, defeated presidential candidate Simba Makoni also said officials from the MDC and Zanu-PF were in contact for initial discussions on power sharing. He said the current environment of instability and violence was not conducive to a free and fair election.

However Tsvangirai poured cold water on sharing power with Zanu-PF, explaining that his party was on record as saying once a mandate was given to them, they would form an inclusive government as a way of managing the transition. Tsvangirai said they will only talk of a unity government after the run-off. He reiterated that in spite of the conditions on the ground the MDC is focused on the run off and has developed counter strategies oforcampaigning. The MDC leader said he was very encouraged by the people's determination and their desire to go to the polls on June 27.

'We wish to state that the Kenyan model of a government of national unity is not an option because here the people have clearly spoken and our circumstances are different. The people's choice must be respected,' Tsvangirai said.

Glen Mpani, regional coordinator for the Cape Town based Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation, said talks were helpful if they helped the smooth transfer of power.

'Any transitional arrangement should deal with certain issues that made it impossible for Mugabe to relinquish power after the March elections. The idea of a coalition government has been raised previously, but the sticking point has long appeared to be Zanu-PF's insistence that Mugabe remain president of any unity government. Besides the issue of Mugabe there are institutions that have been abused like the army and the police. These organs need to be de-politicised and the courts should be allowed to function without any interference,' Mpani said.

He added; 'The priority from the discussions now should be a call to end the violence and the killings.'