PRETORIA (AFP) - Top-level talks between Zimbabwe's ruling party and opposition aimed at resolving the country's political crisis were underway in South Africa Thursday, a spokesman for President Thabo Mbeki said.

"Full-on talks are underway," Mukoni Ratshitanga told AFP.

The talks had been due to kick off on Tuesday but negotiators for Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF party and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change only flew out of Harare on Wednesday night.

Ratshitanga confirmed that both sides' negotiators were now at the talks venue, which is understood to be in Pretoria.

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