A top leader of Zimbabwe's opposition says the option of forming aunity government in Zimbabwe ended when President Robert Mugabe wentahead with his one-man election Friday.

Tendai Biti (file photo)

In a statement from thecapital, Harare Tuesday, Movement for Democratic Changesecretary-general, Tendai Biti, says the sham election of June 27 endedany prospects for a negotiated settlement to Zimbabwe's politicalcrisis.

Biti also strongly denied reports that the MDC had beenholding talks with President Mugabe's ruling ZANU-PF party, calling thereports malicious and false.

Other countries, including SouthAfrica, have called for the ruling party to open talks with theopposition to form a Kenya-style power-sharing agreement.

Butearlier Tuesday, Zimbabwe presidential spokesman George Charambadismissed those calls, saying Kenya is Kenya and Zimbabwe is Zimbabwe,and the two nations have different ways of resolving conflict.

Charambaspoke as leaders at the African Union summit in Egypt's Sharm el Sheikhresort worked to forge a common response to the political turmoil thathas gripped Zimbabwe.

The Mugabe spokesman lashed out at one ofZimbabwe's most vocal critics, Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga,saying Mr. Odinga's hands "drip with blood."

The Kenyan primeminister took office through a power-sharing agreement only after anoutbreak of violence that killed at least 1,500 people.

Westernleaders and the United Nations have rejected the results of Friday'selection in Zimbabwe, saying it was neither free nor fair.

TheWest has called on African leaders to do the same. But Mr. Mugabereceived a warm welcome Monday from his peers at the summit in Egypt. The summit is expected to consider a resolution on Zimbabwe Tuesday.

SeveralAfrican countries, including Liberia, Sierra Leone and Senegal, areknown to be pressing behind the scenes for a strong statementcondemning the runoff election.  

Zimbabwe was not scheduled tobe the focus of the two-day African Union summit, but the runoffcontroversy has dominated conversation among the leaders.

AUPeace and Security Commissioner, Algeria's Ramtane Lamamra, says the AUis trying to focus on ways to help unite Zimbabwe for the good of itspeople.

Lamamra also rejects allegations that the union lacks the political will to confront tough issues like Zimbabwe.

The MDC says pro-Mugabe militants killed dozens and injured thousands of opposition party supporters in the run-up to the vote.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, and Reuters.