Mugabe and Tsvangirai met for the first time since the MDC announced a partial withdrawal from the government, saying Mugabe's Zanu-PF was "a dishonest and unreliable partner."

The party is boycotting cabinet meetings, but MDC ministers are continuing to run their portfolios.

"The stalemate worsens after a three-hour principals meeting today," MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa said afterwards. "The parties are in disagreement on the fundamental issues."

Tsvangirai, who met directly afterwards with his party executive, was not immediately available for comment.

Last week, the former opposition leader took his dispute with Mugabe to Zimbabwe's neighbours, meeting with the leaders of South Africa, Mozambique, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola to seek support for the MDC's position.

Mugabe has, however, maintained a defiant stance, telling state media at the weekend his party had fulfilled its side of the power- sharing deal and would not be pressured by the MDC into relinquishing more power.

Mugabe was pushed by the Southern African Development Community into negotiations with the MDC last year, after claiming power following a violent presidential election that was universally condemned as a sham.

Tsvangirai accuses Mugabe of ignoring a raft of obligations in the terms of the September Global Political Agreement, including requirements to implement human rights reforms and share power equitably among the two parties.

As the infighting worsens, the state has launched a new crackdown against MDC members and rights activists.

The heads of the umbrella organization for all of Zimbabwe's non-governmental organizations were arrested on Sunday.

Cephas Zinumhwe, chief executive of the National Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (NANGO), and its chairperson,

Dadirai Chikwengo, were arrested at a small airport in the northern resort town of Victoria Falls after a NANGO meeting.

The two had been due to appear in court in Victoria Falls on Monday on charges of "holding a public political meeting without approval," but remained in police holding cells.

NANGO represents a broad alliance of human rights, welfare, gender and poverty relief organizations.

In another apparent swipe at the former opposition, a crowd of police, claiming to be searching for weapons, ransacked a residence owned by the MDC and assaulted the caretaker and workers.

No weapons were found and no one was arrested.

By The Times (SA)