A party official told AFP today Zimbabwe's opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party led Morgan Tsvangirai will be attending the swearing in of new MPs on Monday.

MDC secretary general Tendai Biti says. "They are going to parliament to defend their mandate. Adding that the problem is with the convening of parliament not the swearing in of members."

The MDC says it had not consented to the reconvening of parliament after controversial elections, claiming it could endanger talks to resolve the country's devastating political crisis.

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe's party suffered a historic defeat in legislative elections in March. The veteran leader was re-elected in a June one-man presidential run-off boycotted by Tsvangirai, who had defeated him in the first round.

SAPA-AFP