Newmont Mining said yesterday it had ended merger talks with Barrick Gold, slamming its suitor and stating bluntly that negotiations failed due to the lack of a constructive, mutually respectful dialogue.

Denver-based Newmont has been quiet for the last two weeks as reports around the stalled merger talks have swirled. But the miner broke its silence yesterday, criticising Barrick’s outgoing chairman Peter Munk, and his successor, co-chairman John Thornton.

“While our team has found your management team’s engagement to be constructive and professional, the same constructive nature cannot be said of our discussions with your co-chairman on certain fundamental strategic and structural issues over the past two weeks,” Newmont’s chairman Vincent Calarco said in a letter to Barrick’s board. – ( Reuters )