Harare- Zimbabwe's prime minister-designate Morgan Tsvangirai on Thursday called on Zimbabwe's southern African neighbours and the African Union to intervene to end the deadlock in power-sharing talks between his and President Robert Mugabe's parties.

In a statement 24 days after Tsvangirai and Mugabe signed a deal to share power, Tsvangirai said, despite claims of progress by Mugabe's party, the two sides were still poles apart on the formation of a 31-ministry unity government.

"There has been no progress made on this entire section as ministries can only be negotiated comprehensively and not individually," he said.

Mugabe said late last month only four ministries were still in dispute. Later media reports had put the number of ministries still up for grabs at only two. The MDC calls the reports propaganda.

Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Tsvangirai said that, because the September 15 deal was underwritten by the Southern African Development Community and the African Union, "the matter should be taken to SADC and AU in order for them to assist us."

Reissuing the MDC's call for SADC mediator, former South African president Thabo Mbeki, to step back in to salvage the deal, Tsvangirai said: "The process can not move forward except in the presence of the facilitator."

September's agreement between Mugabe, Tsvangirai and Arthur Mutambara, leader of a breakaway MDC faction was hailed as a first step towards ending the decade-long suffering of Zimbabweans.

Now, millions of people in the once-prosperous nation face starvation in the months to come unless a new government is installed to try to tackle some of the rot caused by Mugabe's disastrous policies.

Western governments are standing by to inject millions of dollars of aid and investment into the country but only if an MDC-dominated government is put in place.

After agreeing to share power with the MDC, Zanu-PF hardliners are balking at giving up key ministries, such as home affairs, which controls the police.

Tsvangirai accused Zanu-PF of being unfeeling towards the populace by holding back on a deal.

Zanu-PF, for its part, has accused the MDC of negotiating through the media and said they see no need for a fresh round of mediation. (dpa)