President Mugabe of Zimbabwe and his bitter foe, the opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, yesterday signed a deal outlining a framework for talks on the country’s political crisis.

The two men shook hands for the first time in a decade at a brief, stiff ceremony in the capital, Harare. They put their signatures to the agreement at the Rainbow Towers Hotel, which was surrounded by a menacing military presence.

Even by agreeing to talk with what he calls the “British-backed counter-revolutionaries” of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), Mr Mugabe has made one of several major concessions which could ultimately lead to the end of almost three decades of his repressive rule.

Mr Tsvangirai described the deal – also signed by Arthur Mutambara, head of a smaller opposition group that broke away from the MDC last year – as a “first tentative step”.

The memorandum of understanding, brokered by President Mbeki of South Africa, commits all parties to “establishing the framework of an inclusive government”.

It also commits Mr Mugabe to ending political violence, ensuring the law is applied equally and guaranteeing the safe return of tens of thousands of people who fled their homes during the last three months of violence.

Mr Mugabe is also obliged to lift the ban, imposed on June 5, preventing aid agencies from helping thousands of internal refugees and a population about to be consumed by famine. Hundreds of refugees have been denied medical attention for injuries inflicted by government soldiers and police.

Regional commentators sayt hat the deal could signal the end for Mr Mugabe, who has governed Zimbabwe since it gained independence in 1980.

The Opposition has indicated it will not serve under him as President and pointedly referred to him yesterday as President of the “ruling” Zanu-PF, indicating that it still does not recognise his victory in last month’s run-off poll.

For his part, Mr Mugabe will not serve in a government he does not lead. But at the same time, his only way out is to ensure Zanu-PF is present in some form of interim government of national unity.

Anything less would be unacceptable to his henchmen in the security services, who now effectively run the country and opposed any suggestion that he might quit when he lost the first round of the elections in March.

Around the precincts of the Rainbow Towers were stationed Zimbabwean soldiers in full combat kit with automatic rifles, while a large squad of armed riot police stood by. Just outside the conference room, scores of secret police sifted through arrivals, ejecting Western diplomats and journalists without state accreditation.

Times Recommends

• Both sides blame US for worsening relations
• Stieg Larsson: losing the plot over his cash
• Odd creature paralysed by incompatible parts