PRETORIA, July 18 (Reuters) - The African Union, United Nations and a grouping of 14 southern African nations have endorsed South African President Thabo Mbeki's mediation of Zimbabwe's crisis talks, Mbeki's office said on Friday.

"All parties agreed with the framework proposed by President Mbeki to facilitate a solution to the challenges in Zimbabwe," the presidency said in a statement after the South African leader briefed AU, UN and SADC diplomats on the talks.

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