S.Africa urges Tsvangirai to stay in Zimbabwe talks

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa on Sunday urged Zimbabwe's opposition to continue with talks to find a solution to the political problems in Zimbabwe after its leader Morgan Tsvangirai pulled out of a presidential run-off vote.

"We are very encouraged that Mr. Tsvangirai, himself, says he is not closing the door completely on negotiations," said Mukoni Ratshitanga, spokesman for South African President Thabo Mbeki.

Mbeki is mandated by regional bloc SADC to mediate between Zimbabwe's opposition and the ruling ZANU-PF to try to end a political and economic crisis in the southern African country.

Movement for Democratic Change leader Tsvangirai withdrew from the June 27 against President Robert Mugabe, citing violence and a state-sponsored campaign to ensure he lost.

But he told reporters in Harare he was open to continued talks, adding South African efforts needed to be "expanded".

"We are not closing the door to any suggestion from these bodies, we respect these bodies. We respect the AU (African Union), we respect SADC."

Tsvangirai, who himself had been detained by police five times while campaigning, said 86 MDC supporters had been killed and 200,000 displaced from their homes in the run-up to the poll.

Mugabe has repeatedly vowed never to turn over power to the opposition, which he brands a puppet of Britain and the United States.

The 84-year-old leader, who has ruled since independence from Britain in 1980, has blamed the political violence on the opposition and denies security forces have been responsible for brutal actions.

(Reporting by Gordon Bell and Cris Chinaka in Harare)