African Union says can sort out Zimbabwe crisis

SHARM EL SHEIKH, Egypt (Reuters) - The African Union is convinced it can sort out an election crisis in Zimbabwe, the organization's top official said on Friday ahead of an African summit.

Despite a wave of international criticism, Zimbabwe went ahead with a run-off presidential election on Friday in which 84-year-old President Robert Mugabe was the only candidate after opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai pulled out of the vote.

"The problem of Zimbabwe, I am convinced it will be solved in a credible way. But please give us time to solve it with our heads of state," Jean Ping, chairman of the AU Commission told a news conference on the sidelines of a meeting of African foreign ministers in Egypt.

"I am convinced we will sort it out and that our credibility will be maintained."

The crisis in Zimbabwe dominated closed-door talks in the resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh ahead of a summit on Monday and Tuesday meant to focus on solving the continent's water and sanitation problems.

Mugabe said on Thursday he would attend the summit but no solutions could be imposed on Zimbabwe from outside. He said he was ready to answer any challenge to the election from within the AU.

Zimbabwe's foreign minister briefed the ministers on the situation in his country, telling them his government was willing to talk with the opposition, but only after Friday's vote, African diplomats told Reuters.

Tsvangirai won a March 29 poll but fell short of the majority needed for outright victory. He has said state-backed violence and intimidation meant his supporters risked their lives by voting, and accused Mugabe of forcing people to vote.

African diplomats at the meeting said some members of the African Union were discussing a possible decision against recognizing the results of the vote, but the day's session ended without resolution.

"I don't think we are going to accept the result but we are still discussing," one minister said, asking not to be identified. Another diplomat, a member of a north African delegation, described the discussions as not very productive.

Ping, citing media reports, said he had heard there were discussions ongoing on an inclusive government following the model used to resolve deadly post-election turmoil in Kenya earlier this year. He said that "means sharing power".

"The government also is thinking of an inclusive government. It seems they have noticed the country is divided roughly into two," Ping said.

"Taking that into account, if they want to bring back unity, serenity and development, maybe there will be a need for those who are actors to talk about the future of Zimbabwe," he added. "This is apparently one of the solutions that is going on."

(Reporting by Daniel Wallis and Cynthia Johnston; Writing by Cynthia Johnston)