Zimbabwe opposition won't meet with visiting mediator Mbeki

President Robert Mugabe met Mbeki on Friday on the South African leader's third visit as mediator on behalf of the Southern African Development Community.

The two men, wearing flower garlands, laughed as they walked hand-in-hand from the aircraft on Mbeki's arrival. They did not speak with reporters, but later posed for photographs in Mugabe's residence, State House, where met for nearly four hours.

Mbeki departed later Friday

Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai did not sit down with Mbeki, whom he sees as biased toward Mugabe, opposition spokesman George Sibotshiwe said.

Tsvangirai "has no confidence in Mbeki," and has called for him to step aside and allow Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa to take over mediation, Sibotshiwe said.

Mwanawasa has been more critical of Mugabe, while Mbeki -believing Mugabe will not respond to confrontation -has stuck to so-called "quiet diplomacy" on Zimbabwe.

Mugabe and Tsvangirai have been in a tense political standoff. The opposition leader insists he won March 29 presidential election outright.

The electoral commission said last week that Tsvangirai had won the most votes but failed to win the simple majority required for a first-round victory, and so would have to face Mugabe again in a runoff.

Mugabe has been accused of orchestrating violence against the opposition since the first round, raising questions about whether a runoff would be free or fair.