World | Robert Mugabe Tsvangirai: Africa, UN Must Broker Deal Seeks 'transitional period;' willing to negotiate before vote By Kevin Spak Posted Jun 25, 2008 9:02 AM CDT Copied Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the main opposition party in Zimbabwe gestures at a press conference in Harare, Sunday, June, 22, 2008. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi) Morgan Tsvangirai is calling for a “negotiated political settlement” to begin a period of “healing” for Zimbabwe, the BBC reports. Speaking at his home after leaving the Dutch embassy, the opposition leader called Friday’s election a sham, and asked the African Union and Southern African Development Community to lead a UN-backed “transitional period.” While Tsvangirai said he would be willing to negotiate with Robert Mugabe’s ruling ZANU-PF, he said the MDC would “not have anything to do” with the government emerging from Friday’s vote. He also demanded the release of MDC deputy Tendai Biti, who is charged with treason. Read These Next After Kennedy Center name change, holiday jazz concert is canceled. President mixes in a coal joke in Christmas Eve call with kids. In this murder, arresting the boyfriend was a big mistake. Sammy Davis Jr.'s ex, Swedish actor May Britt, is dead at 91. Report an error