Zimbabwe Opposition Chief To Southern African Leaders: He Would Be Premier

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (AP) — Zimbabwe’s opposition chief has told southern African leaders he would accept the prime minister’s post in a power-sharing deal that would leave Robert Mugabe president.

Morgan Tsvangirai outlined that position in a speech to Cabinet ministers gathered on the eve of a Southern African Development Community summit. A copy of the speech was obtained by The Associated Press on today.

Tsvangirai says the prime minister would run Cabinet meetings and conduct government business in parliament. He proposes that the president have no power to veto laws. The opposition also proposes that the president would be military commander in chief, but exercise that power in consultation with the prime minister.