Newly re-elected and hastily inaugurated, Robert Mugabe will arrive at today's African Union (AU) summit in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh declaring triumphantly that he has once again fought off the imperialist forces of darkness and evil.

Some African heads of state will look down at their feet in embarrassment, others may even nod in agreement. Few are likely to raise a word against him until the “hero of the liberation struggle” has flown out again. Everyone is hoping he does not stay very long.

Never short in political cunning, Mr Mugabe, 84, has probably done just enough to avoid immediate censure. In the face of worldwide condemnation of a clearly bogus result, President Mugabe has already offered to open talks with the opposition on a government of national unity.

Morgan Tsvangirai, the opposition leader who withdrew from the run-off poll in the face of intimidation and violence against his supporters, has indicated he may take part.

Mr Mugabe even invited Mr Tsvangirai to attend yesterday's inauguration at the presidential residence, a humiliation that the opposition leader rejected angrily.

Insiders have long said that Mr Mugabe was determined to be re-elected before opening such talks. They argued that this move would assuage the fears of military hardliners, who now effectively govern the country, that the ruling Zanu (PF) would remain in power even if the “old man” stepped down at some later stage.

Mr Mugabe seemed to believe that, even after a poll not even his closest old allies could endorse, the result would help him to negotiate from a position of strength.

South Africa's President Mbeki, much maligned as the region's weak official mediator, tried to open talks on a transitional government of national unity before the vote.

Now, in return for Mr Mugabe's “olive branches”, he is likely to urge the rest of Africa not to be too hasty in condemning the outcome.

Several African leaders have condemned recent events in Zimbabwe and the 53-member AU's own mediators have declared that it was not free and fair.

The body itself, however, bands together a number of countries whose own records on democracy and human rights leave much to be desired.

It will somehow try to adopt a resolution that does not recognise the elections but stops short of declaring Mr Mugabe himself “illegitimate”.

Kenya's Prime Minister, Raila Odinga, echoing comments made by Emeritus Archbishop Desmond Tutu, has called for AU troops to be sent to Zimbabwe. However, those advocating international intervention of some sort know it can only realistically take place after some sort of peace deal has been stitched together.

For all the diplomatic huffing and puffing, no one will now want to stake responsibility for derailing that delicate process, including the West, by spurning the ultra-sensitive octogenarian tyrant.

If peace talks do not proceed quickly, the West's one and only real option is to push for much tougher sanctions against Zimbabwe and urge its many allies on the continent to support them.

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