Ahern expressed hope the political crisis in Zimbabwe was nearing an end after a briefing from South African President Thabo Mbeki, who is mediating talks between President Robert Mugabe's government and the Movement for Democratic Change.

Mbeki summoned both sides to the South African capital Pretoria last weekend in a bid to revive the stalled talks and get them to sign an agreement that would address constitutional changes and set the stage for elections this year.

"He (Mbeki) would in days be engaged in some of the final aspects of this," Ahern told reporters in Pretoria after meeting with Mbeki and South African Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcucka.

But Ahern, on a three-day visit to South Africa, said Mbeki also outlined a number of "sticking points" that stand in the way of an agreement. The Irish leader expressed concern at what he described as the deteriorating situation in Zimbabwe.

Zimbabweans are struggling with soaring poverty, inflation of more than 8,000 percent and chronic shortages of food and fuel amid an economic crisis that began almost a decade ago but has worsened in the past year.

Thousands every day cross illegally into South Africa to look for food and work.

Mbeki began brokering talks between Mugabe's ZANU-PF and the MDC nearly a year ago at the urging of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), a regional grouping of 14 countries that includes Zimbabwe.

The discussions, which have stalled several times, have intensified as Zimbabwe draws closer to elections, which are currently scheduled for March. Some in the MDC have suggested that the polls should be delayed.

Mugabe, in power since independence from Britain in 1980, has vowed to run for another five-year term despite widespread accusations that his government has abused human rights, rigged previous elections and destroyed the economy.