Botswana's President Ian Khama, a fierce critic of Robert Mugabe, is meeting members of the Elders group in Johannesburg after they were refused entry into Zimbabwe on Saturday, a spokesman said yesterday.

Botswana's President Ian Khama, a fierce critic of Robert Mugabe, is meeting members of the Elders group in Johannesburg after they were refused entry into Zimbabwe on Saturday, a spokesman said yesterday.

"The leaders will be discussing a number of issues regarding the Zimbabwe situation," said Elders spokesman Katy Cronin, who revealed no details of the discussions.

Former US president Jimmy Carter and ex-United Nations secretary-general Kofi Annan were to embark on a humanitarian mission to the strife-torn country, but were denied visas by Robert Mugabe's government.

Carter, Annan and Graca Machel, wife of former president Nelson Mandela, are meeting aid groups working in Zimbabwe, including major donors, heads of UN agencies and civil society groups.

Earlier yesterday, Khama - who has been critical of the political situation in Zimbabwe - held talks with President Kgalema Motlanthe.

Montlanthe appealed to Zimbabwe's political parties to begin constitutional processes that will create a unity government, state media reported.

The Elders delegation is part of a group of 12 world respected statesmen with experience in global conflict resolution, formed by Mandela on his 89th birthday. - Sapa-AFP