Zimbabwe?s main opposition party has called for renewed protests aimed at forcing President Robert Mugabe to stage new elections. The call came as the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) ended a two-day conference in Harare on Sunday. But the MDC also called for negotiations with President Mugabe?s Zanu-PF party.

Talks between the two sides broke down after the MDC refused to recognise Mr Mugabe?s victory in the 2002 election. The MDC also said that last week?s visit to Zimbabwe by South African President Thabo Mbeki had raised hopes for a resumption of the talks earlier next year. ?We are determined to ensure democratic resistance and mass action,? MDC?s leader Morgan Tsvangirai said. ?It?s the agenda for 2004 and we don?t have to hide it,? he added.

But he stressed that the party remained committed to bringing about political change through peaceful means. Zimbabwe is facing its worst economic crisis, with surging rates of unemployment and critical shortages of hard currency needed to buy food, fuel and medicine.

The MDC also said Mr Mugabe would be further pressured by his South African counterpart into restarting dialogue with the opposition. ?We have no reason whatsoever to think that Mr Mugabe will continue scorning the hand of friendship that has been extended to him by the likes of President Mbeki who have put their own credibility on the line,? MDC spokesman Paul Themba Nyathi said.