HARARE, (Reuters) - Zimbabwe’s opposition MDC said it  would boycott the country’s power-sharing government until  sticking points have been resolved and a political deal is  reached, sparking the biggest crisis since the administration  was formed nine months ago.

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai said yesterday his Movement  for Democratic Change would disengage from President Robert  Mugabe’s “dishonest and unreliable” ZANU-PF party in the  country’s unity cabinet set up in February.

“It is our right to disengage from a dishonest and  unreliable partner. In this regard, whilst being in government  we shall forthwith disengage from ZANU-PF and in particular from  cabinet and the council of ministers until such time as  confidence and respect are restored amongst us,” Tsvangirai told  reporters.

A key test of the MDC’s decision may come next month when  Finance Minister Tendai Biti — who is a senior MDC leader — is  due to present Zimbabwe’s 2010 national budget.
Mugabe’s ZANU-PF said the MDC’s move would have to be  considered seriously by the party.

“That is a matter that would require a collective response  from all of us in the party. It needs some serious  consideration. I wouldn’t want to pre-empt the party’s  position,” said Didymus Mutasa, a senior ZANU-PF official and  Minister of State in Mugabe’s office.