Zimbabwe's ruling party and Morgan Tsvangirai's opposition resumed power-sharing talks today which President Robert Mugabe said were about "little hurdles".
Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai arrived at a Harare hotel this afternoon for talks that could end a post-election political crisis and raise hopes of economic recovery.
Asked by reporters if the negotiation process may be concluded today, MDC leader Tsvangirai said: "Hope so".
But an opposition source said a power-sharing agreement was being held up by Mr Mugabe's refusal to give up executive powers.
Negotiations began last month after Mr Mugabe's unopposed re-election in June in a poll condemned throughout the world and boycotted by Mr Tsvangirai because of attacks on his supporters.
Mr Mugabe told supporters at a rally in Harare that there was progress in talks with Mr Tsvangirai and breakaway MDC faction leader Arthur Mutambara. South African President Thabo Mbeki is mediating.
"We had a long night negotiating on some little hurdles and I thought I should raise my fist but he (Mbeki) remained cool and said: 'Let us continue talking'," Mr Mugabe said in a speech to honour those who died fighting in Zimbabwe's liberation war. He has been in power since independence from Britain in 1980.
Reuters