Southern African leaders gathered at a weekend summit failed to push Zimbabwe?s ruling party and the opposition to agree a power-sharing deal that could end the country?s post-election political crisis.

But the secretary-general of Zimbabwe?s opposition MDC said on Sunday the party believed talks with the ruling ZANU-PF would be concluded soon and that failure was not an option.

Speaking after a summit of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), Tendai Biti said the Movement for Democratic Change was committed to continuing negotiations. ?We trust that there will be a conclusion ... very soon. There are issues that are outstanding ... but quite clearly one has no business in negotiating if you are not prepared to compromise,? Biti said. ?It is critical that we conclude this dialogue as a matter of urgency.?

An MDC official said mediation efforts would continue on Monday and Tsvangirai would begin a regional tour to consult with southern African leaders.

Opportunity to heal

Thirteen heads of state in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) had hoped the two sides would reach an agreement at the summit and move on with efforts to rescue Zimbabwe?s shattered economy.

Negotiations began last month after President Robert Mugabe was re-elected unopposed in June, in a vote condemned around the world and boycotted by MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai because of attacks on his supporters.

A troika of SADC leaders called on Zimbabwe?s parties to quickly reach a power-sharing agreement and said parliament may have to be convened as talks continue, said South African President Thabo Mbeki, chief mediator in the talks.

But the troika did not impose a deadline and it was not possible to say when a deal would be reached, said Mbeki, the new chairman of the 15-nation SADC.

Officials close to the talks have said there is fundamental disagreement on who would have effective control of the government ? the crucial sticking point which has hindered efforts to rescue the country?s shattered economy. ?That country (Zimbabwe) needs an opportunity to heal, that country needs an opportunity of re-starting,? said Biti. ?That country needs an opportunity of rehabilitating itself so we as the leaders of the Movement for Democratic Change will remain committed to this dialogue.?

Convening parliament was unlikely because it would require consensus according to a memorandum of understanding signed by the parties, said Tsvangirai?s spokesman, George Sibotshiwe.

Zimbabwe?s neighbours fear the consequences if its political stalemate and economic decline lead to total meltdown.

Millions of Zimbabweans have fled across borders to escape the world?s highest inflation rate of over 2 million percent as well as high unemployment and shortages of basic goods.

Mbeki has been criticised for not being tough with Mugabe, in power since 1980. Mbeki has insisted all along that pushing the defiant Zimbabwean leader would only aggravate tensions. ?The decision that will be reached about what should happen will come from the Zimbabwe parties,? Mbeki told reporters. ?Any solution that is imposed from outside won?t last.?

Botswana President Seretse Khama Ian Khama boycotted the summit, a sign of growing regional impatience with the talks.