Chaos stops Zimbabwe constitution conference

By Nelson Banya

HARARE (Reuters) - A Zimbabwean conference to draw up a new constitution descended into chaos on Monday as riot police broke up clashes between rival delegates, underscoring the tensions within a unity government formed this year.

Police drove the delegates out of the venue and cordoned it off, while Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and his old rival President Robert Mugabe met to discuss the disruption.

The conference is part of a process which should lead to the adoption of a new national constitution and fresh elections in about two years.

But the chaos reflected the divisions within the coalition government set up between President Robert Mugabe and old rival Morgan Tsvangirai in February to try to end political paralysis and reverse a decade of economic decline.

Zimbabweans hope a new charter, replacing one inked in 1979 before independence from Britain, will strengthen the role of parliament and curtail the president's powers, as well as guaranteeing civil liberties and political and media freedom.

Trouble broke out between delegates from Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and Mugabe's ZANU-PF during an opening statement by the speaker of parliament.

Riot police drove them out of the conference venue. The police also sealed off the venue, keeping delegates out despite earlier indications that the conference would continue.

MDC lawmaker and co-chairperson on the parliamentary committee driving the constitutional reforms, Douglas Mwonzora, earlier told Reuters political leaders had agreed the conference would resume. Delegates had not reconvened by Monday afternoon.