Source: Mugabe rival offered vice presidency

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (CNN) -- Zimbabwe opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has been offered a vice presidency position in the country's government, according to a source close to negotiations between the two sides.

Negotiators for Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe put forward the offer at mediation talks in South Africa after a controversial election, which Tsvangirai pulled out of claiming his supporters were suffering violence and harassment.

Under the deal, Mugabe would remain in power, as would the two existing vice presidents.

Tsvangirai would be given the position of third vice president, the source said.

The move has deadlocked power-sharing talks between the two sides, according to a source close to the negotiations.

According to the source, Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change will not accept a junior partnership in a future Zimbabwe government.

MDC officials have publicly stated they will not accept a Mugabe-led government because they say Tsvangirai won the most votes in the March 29 presidential election.

The government said the opposition candidate failed to secure enough votes to avoid a runoff with Mugabe.

Mugabe won the June 27 runoff after Tsvangirai withdrew from the vote, saying Mugabe's supporters had orchestrated a campaign of beatings, intimidation and murders against Tsvangirai supporters.

Negotiators for the MDC will restart talks with Mugabe's ZANU-PF on Saturday, the source said.

The talks began last week at an undisclosed location in Pretoria under South African mediation.

Last week, Mugabe and Tsvangirai signed an agreement that paved the way for the power-sharing talks under the mediation of South African President Thabo Mbeki, as a representative of the Southern African Development Community, and Jean Ping of Gabon, chairman of the African Union Commission.

All About Zimbabwe • Robert Mugabe • Morgan Tsvangirai