Zimbabwe demands compensation | On-the-spot: 'the scourge is over' | Analysis: the jury is still out

Zimbabwe’s new political partners were due to sit down today to the thorny task of allocating Cabinet posts in the country's new unity goverment after a day of raucous celebration by opposition activists.

Robert Mugabe, the 84-year-old strongman who retains his grip on the presidency under a deal signed yesterday, will hold direct talks with Morgan Tsvangirai, the opposition leader who becomes prime minister. Joining them will be Arthur Mutambara, who heads a rival oppositon faction and will become one of two deputy premiers.

Aside from allocating ministries, the various factions also have to agree on amendments to the constitution to allow the implementation of the power-sharing accord.

A banner headline on the front page of the state mouthpiece The Herald announced the “Dawn of a new era” this morning, with an editorial calling for leaders to “quickly transform the talks into action”.

A special edition of the private weekly Zimbabwe Independent also said it was time “to get to work” to ease tensions among the former rivals which it said had been clearly visible during yesterday's signature ceremony, overseen by President Mbeki of South Africa, at a Harare convention centre.

“The event was feted as a success story but there remains evidence of tension and uneasiness among the leaders, which has to wear off quickly for them to achieve positive results quickly for Team Zimbabwe,” the newspaper’s editorial said.

Monday's accords committed the parties to free political activity, a national healing process and the restoration of economic stability in what was once the region's breadbasket. The new political partners also agreed to call on Britain, as the former colonial power, to pay compensation to the 4,000 white farms whose land the Mugabe government has seized for its own supporters.

In a lengthy off-the-cuff speech yesterday, Mr Mugabe lashed out at Britain and the United States. “Why is the hand of Britain and America here? Zimbabwe is a sovereign country, only the people of Zimbabwe has the fundamental right to govern it. They alone will set up government, they alone will change it," he said.

Mr Tsvangirai used his first platform as head of government to call on Zimbabwe’s rival parties to work together to “unite” the country. He also called for the economically-shattered southern African country’s doors to be reopened to international aid.

“The international aid organisations came to help our country and found our doors locked,” Mr Tsvangirai said. “We need to unlock our doors to aid - we need medicine, food, and doctors back in our country. We need electricity, water, petrol for our vehicles, we need to access our cash from banks."

Over the past decade, Zimbabwe’s economy has collapsed with the world’s highest inflation rate, chronic shortages of foreign currency and food, skyrocketing unemployment and widespread hunger. The International Monetary Fund said that it was ready to hold talks with Zimbabwe's new goverment.

Europe and the United States were cautious about the deal. EU foreign ministers welcomed it, but said that Mr Mugabe must prove that he is willing to restore real democratic rule in his country before EU sanctions can be lifted.

David Miliband, the Foreign Secretary, said that restoring ties and scrapping sanctions depended on how much power Mr Tsvangirai would have as prime minister.

EU officials said the ministers would look at freeing up aid for Zimbabwe at their next meeting in October.

“We will look what we can do, because economic aid is essential for Zimbabwe,” Bernard Kouchner, the French Foreign Minister, said. “We are pleased with this outcome, but it’s not the end, it will be a long process.”

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