Cape Town — Zimbabwean political leader Morgan Tsvangirai has characterised Thursday's meeting between representatives of his party and the ruling Zanu-PF as talks about talks.

The meeting, being held in Pretoria, South Africa was "solely to present the conditions under which genuine negotiations can take place," Tsvangirai said in a statement issued Thursday night. "No... negotiations can take place while the Zanu-PF regime continues to wage war on my party and the people of Zimbabwe," he added.

Tsvangirai, who heads the Movement for Democratic Change, listed five conditions that would have to be met before the MDC would join negotiations with Zanu-PF:

-- An immediate end to violence and "the withdrawal and disbanding of militia groups, paramilitary camps and illegal road blocks";

-- The release of political prisoners, an end to political persecution and "allowing the currently-besieged MDC leadership to conduct business and travel without hindrance";

-- Humanintarian organizations had to be allowed to provide food, medicines and other aid throughout the country.

-- Parliament and the Senate had to be sworn in and begin work;

-- A permanent African Union envoy should join President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa (who is distrusted by the MDC) as a mediator in talks.