HARARE, Zimbabwe – Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai expressed pessimism Wednesday about talks on Zimbabwe's proposed government of national unity but his rival President Robert Mugabe was confident negotiations were nearing a conclusion.

A second day of talks between Tsvangirai and Mugabe ended in the early evening and will resume Thursday.

“The proceedings have been quite circuitous,” Tsvangirai told reporters at the Harare hotel were the talks are being held.

However, Mugabe was more upbeat when he left the venue a while later. “We have made some progress. We will finish tomorrow,” he said.

A power-sharing agreement reached one month ago is in danger of collapsing after Mugabe's party laid claim to all the key ministries.

Tsvangirai, who is prime minister-designate, threatened over the weekend to walk out if the opposition party was only given minor posts.

Former South African president Thabo Mbeki is mediating the talks.

Zimbabwe's economy is in free fall with inflation of 231 million percent, a shortage of most basic goods and looming mass malnutrition.