ZIMBABWE RIVAL PARTIES HOLD TALKS !

Zimbabwe's ruling Zanu-PF party and both factions of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change have begun talks in South Africa.
This is their first meeting since June's run-off poll, which President Robert Mugabe won unopposed after the MDC pulled out because of violence.
The African Union has urged Zimbabwe to form a government of national unity.
South Africa President Thabo Mbeki is leading mediation efforts while opposing moves towards UN sanctions.
The BBC's Peter Biles in Johannesburg says it is not yet clear whether the talks involve anything substantial.
But he says both sides now realise that dialogue is the only way forward and that there has to be some kind of power sharing.
Previously Mr Mugabe had said there could only be talks if the opposition recognised him as president, while Mr Tsvangirai had ruled out talks unless there was an end to continuing post-election violence.
Meanwhile, the US and the UK are pushing for a travel ban and assets freeze on President Mugabe and 13 of his allies, and an arms embargo.
Ahead of an expected UN Security Council resolution, the European Parliament has called on European countries to impose more economic sanctions against members of Zimbabwe's government.

DRAFT SANCTIONS LIST
Robert Mugabe, President
Constantine Chiwenga, Defence Forces Commander
Emmerson Mnangagwa, Rural Housing Minister
Gideon Gono, Reserve Bank head
Augustine Chihuri, Police chief
Patrick Chinamasa, Justice Minister
Perence Shiri, Air Force chief
David Parirenyatwa, Health Minister
Didymus Mutasa, Security and Lands Minister
George Charamba, President's spokesman
Paradzi Zimondi, Prison Service head
Happyton Bonyongwe, Central Intelligence Organisation head
Sydney Sekeremayi, Defence Minister
Joseph Made, State Minister for Agricultural Engineering
Source: Draft UN Security Council resolution

Full text: G8 statement
G8 'revulsion' at Zimbabwe crisis

The parliament in Strasbourg said travel restrictions on businessmen who financed Mr Mugabe's government should be among the new measures.
It also said the banks that provided loans or invested in Zimbabwe should be exposed. The vote is non-binding.
The UN Security Council is due to meet in New York to discuss a draft resolution on Zimbabwe, despite several African leaders saying they oppose sanctions, including South Africa.
Mr Mbeki reportedly told G8 leaders earlier this week that UN sanctions could lead to civil war.
South Africa is currently on the UN Security Council but does not have the power of veto.
Earlier, the High Court eased bail conditions on MDC Secretary General Tendai Biti to allow him to travel to South Africa for proposed talks on forming a unity government.
Two representatives of South Africa's ruling African National Congress also met Mr Mugabe in Harare on Wednesday. No details of that meeting have emerged.
South Africa's leader tried to meet all sides in Zimbabwe over the weekend.
But MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai refused, saying meeting Mr Mugabe at State House would mean recognising his legitimacy as president.
Mr Tsvangirai won the first round of Zimbabwe's presidential elections on 29 March, but official results gave him less than 50% share needed to avoid a run-off.
Since March, the opposition says more than 100 of its supporters have been killed, some 5,000 are missing and more than 200,000 have been forced from their homes.
A special one-hour programme of BBC Focus on Africa exploring the political, economic and social prospects for Zimbabwe will be broadcast on Tuesday 15 July at 1500 GMT on the BBC World Service.

BBC NEWS REPORT.