Johannesburg, South Africa — Zimbabwe’s opposition has held secret talks with President Mugabe’s regime, despite an increasingly brutal campaign of violence, it emerged yesterday.

A delegation from the Movement for Democratic Change has discussed forming a government of national unity with the ruling Zanu-PF party.

A senior source confirmed that a meeting took place last week. The MDC’s secretary-general, Tendai Biti, represented Morgan Tsvangirai, the party leader. Two cabinet members, Patrick Chinamasa, the justice minister, and Nicholas Goche, the social welfare minister, represented Zanu-PF.

The meeting was believed to have taken place in Pretoria, the South African capital.

The source said it was a continuation of the dialogue mediated by President Mbeki, which the MDC had previously described as “dead.”

The former Zanu-PF finance minister, Simba Makoni, who came a remote third in the first round of the presidential election, said he was aware of the talks and urged the creation of a unity government. “I can confirm that there are communications between and among Zimbabwean leaders at various levels and these communications have to do with solving the crisis,” he said.

There was “no hope” of a free and fair election, Mr. Makoni said, and the presidential run-off set for June 27 should be canceled. Instead, Messrs. Tsvangirai and Mugabe “should be sitting across the table, discussing the future of Zimbabwe.”

One possible outcome would be the cancelation of the election’s final round, allowing Mr. Mugabe to remain as president while Mr. Tsvangirai became prime minister. This model resolved Kenya’s political crisis earlier this year, when President Kibaki stayed in power and his leading opponent, Raila Odinga, accepted the premiership.

But this would leave Mr. Mugabe in power, despite having come second to Mr. Tsvangirai in the first round.

The MDC is understood to be divided on whether to talk to Zanu-PF, with Mr. Biti in favor and Mr. Tsvangirai opposed to anything short of personal negotiations with Mr. Mugabe.

Observers believe the chances of such talks succeeding are minimal.

Mr. Tsvangirai Monday ruled out reaching an agreement on a unity government before the election’s final round. “A government of national unity negotiated before the run-off does not arise,” he said.

Nonetheless, both sides have something to lose if the election’s final round goes ahead. If Mr. Tsvangirai takes power, Zanu-PF’s senior figures could face prosecution.

According to the MDC, the regime’s campaign of intimidation has resulted in more than 60 of its members and supporters being killed and 3,000 hospitalized. About 50,000 people have been forced to flee their homes, a move which would probably prevent them from voting and allow Mr. Mugabe to claim victory.

Mr. Tsvangirai has said that he would form a “government of national healing,” including some Zanu-PF figures. But so far, he has insisted on his right to be president.

He blamed Mr. Mugabe for the violence and said that Zimbabwe was “effectively now run by a military junta.”