FACTBOX: What prospects for Zimbabwe crisis talks?

(Reuters) - Below are answers to some questions on what is likely to happen after Zimbabwe's opposition spurned a call by African leaders to begin negotiating a unity government with President Robert Mugabe.

Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai said on Wednesday conditions were not currently right for talks, citing the violence that prompted him to boycott the June 27 presidential run-off election, which was won by Mugabe.

WILL THERE BE TALKS?

Mugabe's ruling ZANU-PF and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change have said they are open to negotiations to end the political crisis, but each has set conditions that are seen as unacceptable to the other side.

Tsvangirai has demanded that the results of the March 29 elections, which he and his MDC won, form the basis of any talks with the government and that the African Union name a permanent envoy to help mediate the process.

Mugabe's officials have said they are willing to talk to all political parties in Zimbabwe, but are likely to insist that Mugabe election victory be respected.

Despite all that, there is very strong pressure from African countries for talks and there appear few options other than eventually bringing the two sides together.

WHAT WOULD COME FROM NEGOTIATIONS?

The question of who leads a unity government would be at the heart of any talks. Both sides sharply disagree on this point.

ZANU-PF will argue Mugabe is the country's legitimate leader as elected president, while the MDC will maintain that Tsvangirai is entitled to lead the nation based on his victory in the March 29 poll.

There are indications Tsvangirai might accept the prime minister's position as long as it came with strong executive powers, allowing Mugabe to remain as a nominal head of state. Mugabe is not seen agreeing to such an erosion of his power.

There is also the important question of what a unity government would do and whether its job would be to hold fresh elections within a specified time frame.

The longer any negotiations drag on, the more they might favor Mugabe since he is already in power and the attention of other countries could easily drift to other issues as the elections recede into the past.

WHAT OPTIONS DO AFRICAN LEADERS HAVE?

Some African leaders want to punish Zimbabwe by banning Mugabe and his officials from meetings of the African Union and Southern African Development Community, but most favor a diplomatic approach to pave the way for talks.

African countries have rejected the toughened sanctions sought by the United States, former colonial power Britain and other Western states and have played down prospects for sending peacekeepers to Zimbabwe, an idea some had floated.