(BERLIN) - Germany said Monday it hoped South Africa would back a call by Zimbabwe's opposition for the African Union to name a second mediator to help President Thabo Mbeki steer talks on the country's political crisis.

"We will in the next days and weeks watch very closely how things in southern Africa develop," foreign ministry spokesman Martin Jaeger said.

"Mr (Morgan) Tsvangirai has elaborated some suggestions and we must see to what extent these are welcomed, in particular also -- maybe hopefully also -- by South Africa and could then find the necessary political support."

Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) called Monday for a summit of African Union leaders under way in Egypt to appoint a permanent envoy to assist Mbeki in mediating in Zimbabwe.

"As far as we are concerned while we may be unhappy with the role of Mbeki, the (Southern African Development Community) SADC member states still look at President Mbeki as the mediator," said MDC spokesman George Sibotshiwe said.

"We are prepared to compromise, and have a mediator on behalf of SADC but supported by a permanent envoy appointed by the African Union."

The MDC has in recent days increasingly signalled its frustration with Mbeki's handling of talks with the regime of President Robert Mugabe.

Tsvangirai last week accused the South African president, whose "quiet diplomacy" on Zimbabwe has long earned him criticism, of seeking to "massage a defeated dictator" instead of showing him the door.

Jaeger said the European Union planned to discuss what further action it could take to with regard to Zimbabwe after Mugabe last week claimed a landslide victory in a one-candidate presidential poll widely dismissed as a farce.

"We are discussing the matter very intensely in the European Union. The French presidency of the EU which is taking up its duties tomorrow (Tuesday) has taken up the question and we will discuss together what further steps we can take."

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