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Zimbabwean leader of the Movement for Democratic Change Morgan Tsvangirai

Zimbabwe's opposition has repeated its demand for South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki to step down as mediator in the country's political crisis.

The call came as Mr Mbeki visited the country to meet President Robert Mugabe.

A spokesman for Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai, said no-one from the party would be meeting Mr Mbeki who was greeted at the airport by Mugabe.

"Our president has no confidence in Mbeki," he said, saying the South African president was seen as biased toward Mugabe.

Mr Tsvangirai said he beat Mugabe outright in March 29 elections but the electoral commission said last week that the opposition leader won the most votes but not the required simple majority, requiring a run-off ballot.

Mugabe has been accused of orchestrating violence against the opposition since the first round, raising questions about whether a runoff would be free or fair.

The opposition has not said whether it will take part in a run-off. No date has been set for the vote, although Mugabe has already begun campaigning.

This is Mr Mbeki's third visit to Zimbabwe as mediator on behalf of the Southern African Development Community. The South African foreign affairs department said he was to meet with Zimbabwe's "political leadership," but gave no further details.

Following a visit to Harare last month, Mr Mbeki came under heavy criticism for saying Zimbabwe was not in crisis.

He has preferred to follow a policy of "quiet diplomacy" toward Zimbabwe, believing that Mugabe will not respond to a confrontational approach.