Tens of thousands of people gathered in the centre of Harare on Saturday to call for the resignation of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, as moves to force him to stand down gather pace after a military takeover in the southern African nation.
Protesters headed towards the office of Prez Robert Mugabe
The rally, supported by the military, was deemed as a "solidarity march". One had a poster with a message for the 93-year-old President: "Leave Zimbabwe now!!!" while a vendor held up a newspaper with the headline: "Mugabe cornered".
The Army staged a takeover on Wednesday but Mugabe has refused its demands to leave office. The military and senior officials within the ruling Zanu-PF party now appear set on forcing Mugabe out within 48 hours. A man arriving at the rally said, "It's time for the masses of Zimbabwe to say: Mugabe must go. For us, it's about the end of authoritarian rule and we are going to take our Zimbabwe back," he said.
To urge him to step down. Pics/AFP & AP
By late Friday, all 10 of the country's provincial Zanu-PF branches had passed motions of no confidence in the President. This could lead to Mugabe being stripped of his office of President of the party by Sunday, an official said.
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No. of years Mugabe ruled the country