Harare - The South African and Nigerian presidents ended talks on Monday with Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and his adversary in last week's controversial election without revealing the substance of their meetings.
"In a matter of days they (Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai) should let us know where we stand and where they stand," Nigeria's Olusegun Obasanjo told a press conference.
Obasanjo and South Africa's Thabo Mbeki were here to discuss a way forward for Zimbabwe in the wake of the election, which returned Mugabe to power amid widespread allegations of vote-rigging.
The two leaders are to proceed to London for a key Commonwealth meeting on Tuesday to decide whether Zimbabwe should be sanctioned.
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| 'Zimbabwe at this point in time needs assistance' |
They are on a three-member panel also including Australian Prime Minister John Howard who have been tasked with making a decision on Zimbabwe after a Commonwealth summit early this month failed to reach a consensus.
They are under instructions to make the decision on the basis of the Commonwealth observer mission to the March 9-11 election.
The team condemned the polling in detailed, categorical terms.
Obasanjo and Mbeki refused to answer questions about the meeting on Tuesday, or to divulge what options may have been put on the table after reports that they would press for a national unity government in Zimbabwe an idea dismissed out of hand by both the ruling and opposition parties.
However, the Nigerian leader said the pair had discussed Zimbabwe's severe economic crisis with both Mugabe and Tsvangirai.
"Zimbabwe at this point in time needs assistance to get it out of its economic difficulties," said Obasanjo, citing shortages of basic foods and a continuing drought.
"Whatever the ordinary people of Zimbabwe have done, voted or not voted, they need to be assisted," said Obasanjo.
It is up to "Zimbabwe itself to set its own agenda," said Obasanjo. - Sapa-AFP
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