Zimbabwe ruling party raises prospect of joint government

HARARE, Zimbabwe -- Zimbabwe's ruling party floated a proposal idea Wednesday for forming a government of national unity led by President Robert Mugabe as a way out of a political crisis that has dragged on for weeks.

The overture, in the state-owned Herald newspaper, could create room for discussion and diplomacy -- but the opposition's leader rejected any role for Mugabe in a coalition administration for this struggling southern African country.

"There is no possibility of a government of national unity," said Morgan Tsvangirai, head of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change.

No results at all have been released for the residential race, which Tsvangirai is widely believed to have won. International pressure has been growing on Mugabe to report results and ensure they are not rigged in his favor.