HARARE, July 17 (Xinhua) -- Mozambique has urged Zimbabwe's main political parties to proceed with dialogues and come to an expeditious settlement, The Herald reported on Thursday.

    Speaking to journalists after delivering a special message from Mozambican President Armando Guebuza to President Mugabe at Zimbabwe House on Wednesday, Foreign Minister Dr Oldemiro Baloi said Maputo supported the ongoing talks between the ruling Zanu-PFand the two formations of the opposition MDC.

    "Our two countries have a shared history and we shall continue exchanging views and ideas because a problem in Zimbabwe is a problem in Mozambique. This is the way things have always been and we will always be concerned about each other. We have seen how the parties are working hard to change the situation and we encourage dialogue to proceed consistently and as rapidly as possible," he said.

    "We share a history of colonialism, of liberation struggle and now of development. For development we need peace, stability and a united Sadc. So I have been sent by my President to deliver a special message to President Mugabe," he said without divulging the contents of the message.

    Dr Baloi was accompanied by Mozambique's Ambassador to Zimbabwe Vincente Veloso. The Minister of Foreign Affairs Simbarashe Mumbengegwi also attended the hour-long meeting.

    SADC Heads of State have appointed South African President Thabo Mbeki to facilitate talks between Zanu-PF and the opposition.

    Mozambique's reaffirmation of support for the SADC mediated talks is a blow to Western countries that have been pushing for a widening of the facilitation team to include that country's ex-President Joaquim Chissano.

    Last week, the United States, Britain and their allies tried to subvert the dialogue by pushing for United Nations sanctions against Zimbabwe but the attempt flopped after key members of the Security Council rejected the move.

    The African Union has also endorsed President Mbeki's mediation and the parties have been resumed meeting following the June 27 presidential run-off election convincingly won by President Mugabe.

    The AU recently passed a resolution stating that there should not be any outside interference in President Mbeki's mediation efforts.

    Namibia has also thrown its weight behind the President Mbeki facilitated dialogue after President Hifikepunye Pohamba told visiting Liberian leader Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf in Windhoek that Africa should assist Zimbabwe rather than denounce it.