Zimbabwe crisis: Army takes over, says Mugabe is safe

Mugabe is safe

Maj Gen Sibusiso Moyo read out a statement on national TV early on Wednesday

Maj information Sibusiso Moyo browse out an announcement on national TV early on Wed

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Media captionMaj information Sibusiso Moyo browse out an announcement on national TV early on Wed

The military has taken management in zimbabwe however aforesaid President Robert Mugabe, in power since 1980, was safe.

After seizing state TV, a military spokesperson declared it absolutely was targeting individuals near Mr Mugabe.

South Africa's President Jacob Zuma later aforesaid he had spoken to Mr Mugabewho had indicated that he "was confined to his home however aforesaid that he was fine".

The move is also a bid to interchange Mr Mugabe along with his sacked deputy, Emmerson Mnangagwa, BBC correspondents say.

The dismissal of Mr Mnangagwa last week had left Mr Mugabe's wife Grace because the president's possiblesuccessor.

Heavy gun and fire may be detected in northern elements of the capital Harare ahead of time Wed.

Soldiers patrolled Harare on Wednesday

A statement browse out by a general on air denied it absolutely was a coup. There was no immediate word from the president himself.

§ Latest reaction and updates

§ The rise of Grace Mugabe

Mr Mugabe, 93, has dominated the impoverished country's political scene since independence from the united kingdom.

Mr Zuma earlier aforesaid he hoped events in zimbabwe wouldn't result in "unconstitutional changes of government".

Messages appeared on a Twitter account supposedly go past the ruling Zanu-PF party speech communication MrMugabe had been detained. however there has been no confirmation by the military and it's not clear who runs the account.

The UK ministry suggested Britons "currently in harare to stay safely reception or in their accommodation till mattersbecomes clearer", whereas the North American nation embassy in {harare|Harare|Salisbury|capital of Rhodesia|national capital} suggested us citizens in Zimbabwe to "shelter in place" till more notice. 

China, Zimbabwe's biggest commercialism partner, says it's closely looking at matters and hopes that the relevant parties will properly handle their internal affairs.

How did the military justify its move?

Troops in armoured vehicles are move into the streets of the capital national capital since Tuesday.

After troopers overran the headquarters of the ZBC broadcaster, Maj information Sibusiso Moyo went on air to mention the military needed to "assure the state that his Excellency the president... and his family square measuresafe and sound and their security is guaranteed".

Image copyrightREUTERSImage captionSoldiers patrolled national capital on Wed

"We square measure solely targeting criminals around him who square measure committing crimes... that square measure inflicting social and economic suffering within the country," he said.

"As presently as we've got accomplished our mission, we have a tendency to expect that matters can come to normalcy."

Other key points of the statement include:

§ Citizens ought to stay calm and limit unneeded movement

§ The military assures the Zimbabwean judiciary that its independence is warranted
§ Security services got to "co-operate for the good of our country" Associate in Nursingd Associate in Nursingy provocation would "be met with an applicable response"§ All leave for the defence forces is off and personnel ought to come to barracks straight off

It is not clear United Nations agency is leading the action.

Army chief information Constantino Chiwenga, who visited China last week, aforesaid on Mon the military was readyto act to finish purges among Zanu-PF.

for more info: BBC