Sanctions on Zimbabwe 'will not be lifted' despite signing of power-sharing deal

Foreign Secretary David Miliband said change depended on how much power opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai would have as prime minister.

On Monday a handshake sealed a historic power-sharing agreement between the rivals.

Under the deal brokered by South African president Thabo Mbeki, Mr Tsvangirai will become prime minister and chair a council of ministers supervising the cabinet.

Mugabe, who has ruled the country ruthlessly for nearly 30 years, will remain president and head the cabinet.

Shake on it: Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe, Morgan Tsvangirai and South African premierThabo Mbeki pose after signing the accord

Few hard details of how the power sharing will work have emerged, and while there was applause and excitement as the two men smiled and shook hands in front of the TV cameras, there was also caution amid fears over whether 84-year-old Mugabe would abide by the agreement.

Critics pointed out how in 1982 he had given a key Cabinet post to opposition leader Joshua Nkomo,  only to force him into exile, accused of plotting a coup, and launched a brutal crackdown that left some 20,000 of his rival's supporters dead.

Even yesterday as the deal was being signed in Harare's International Conference Centre there were clashes outside between supporters of Mugabe's Zanu-PF and Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change.

And while Tsvangirai, who has been jailed, beaten, tortured and tried for treason by Mugabe's regime, spoke positively of the way forward with the priority being the need to tackle hunger, the president returned to a favourite theme and accused former colonial power Britain of meddling in his country's affairs.

Few hard details of how the fragile power sharing will work have emerged and analysts say it will require former enemies to put aside their differences and work closely to overcome scepticism, especially from Western powers whose financial support will be vital for recovery.

Mugabe's Zanu-PF will have 15 cabinet seats, Tsvangirai's MDC 13 and a splinter MDC faction three seats - in theory giving the combined MDC factions a majority.

Arthur Mutambara, leader of the breakaway MDC faction, will be deputy prime minister.

All smiles: Mugabe, left, shares a light moment with Zimbabwe's new Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai

Crucially, the deal is expected to split control of the powerful security forces that have been key backers of Mugabe.

The president, a former guerrilla commander, is likely to keep command of Zimbabwe's strong army - the key to his power, but the MDC wants to run the police force.

In their first joint declaration, the leaders called on Britain to accept responsibility for compensating farmers who lost their land during Zimbabwe's land reform process that saw white-owned commerical farms seized and distributed to blacks.

Foreign Secretary David Miliband gave a cautious welcome to the deal saying he hoped it would allow 'a turn in the tide of suffering in Zimbabwe' and said Britain was ready to support the new government if it shows it has broken with the policies followed by Mugabe over recent years.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown's spokesman said that the extent of any future British support would depend on the actions of the new administration governing the southern African nation.

Mr Miliband, who was in Brussels for talks with EU ministers, made clear the new pact between Mugabe and Tsvangirai would have to be seen to work before any significant change in EU relations with Zimbabwe.

'We are on tenterhooks waiting for the details of the agreement in Zimbabwe and the shape of the new government that is being created there,' Mr Miliband said.

'The absolute imperative is the welfare of the Zimbabwe people.  We know a new democratic mandate exists and now we need to see that translated into action on the ground.'

Praise: Opposition supporters gather outside the venue for the signing of a deal that would see President Robert Mugabe cede some power to opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai

The world's highest inflation has made it difficult for many Zimbabweans to feed themselves in what was once the region's breadbasket. A poor recent harvest has increased the desperation. In addition, Mugabe's government in June restricted the work of aid agencies, accusing them of siding with the opposition before a presidential runoff. The ban was lifted last month, but aid agencies say it takes time to gear up.

Tsvangirai looked forward as he told 3,000 invited guests at the signing and a live TV audience: 'This agreement sees the return of hope to all our lives. It is this hope that provides the foundation of this agreement that we sign, that will provide us with the belief that we can achieve a new Zimbabwe.'

He called for legislators to be 'driven by the hope of a new, better, brighter country' and the 'hope of a new beginning,' adding :  'Under my leadership, this unity government will let businesses flourish so our people can work and provide for their families with pride.'

For his part, Mugabe returned to his habitual complaints that Britain was responsible for his country's woes stressing : 'African problems must be solved by Africans...the problem we have had is a problem that has been created by former colonial powers.'

But he added: 'We are committed to the deal, we will do our best'.