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Zimbabwe crisis: Army seizes broadcaster but denies coup Zimbabwe crisis: Army takes over but denies coup
(about 1 hour later)
Zimbabwe's military has read out a statement after taking over the national broadcaster, ZBC, saying it has taken action to "target criminals". Zimbabwe's military has seized state TV, saying it is targeting people close to President Robert Mugabe for causing "social and economic suffering".
However, it said this was not "a military takeover of government" and President Robert Mugabe was safe. A statement read out by a general on air denied it was a coup and said Mr Mugabe was safe, but did not say where.
Heavy gunfire and artillery were heard in northern suburbs of the capital, Harare, early on Wednesday. Heavy gun and artillery fire could be heard in northern parts of the capital Harare early on Wednesday.
Zimbabwe's envoy to South Africa, Isaac Moyo, earlier dismissed talk of a coup, saying the government was "intact". The army action comes after Mr Mugabe sacked Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa, amid a row over succession.
The statement read out by Maj Gen Sibusiso Moyo came hours after soldiers overran the headquarters of ZBC. He said: "We wish to assure the nation that his excellency the president... and his family are safe and sound and their security is guaranteed." Latest reaction and updates
The statement added: "We are only targeting criminals around him who are committing crimes... that are causing social and economic suffering in the country. As soon as we have accomplished our mission, we expect that the situation will return to normalcy." There was no immediate word from Mr Mugabe but Zimbabwe's envoy to South Africa, Isaac Moyo, said the government was "intact".
The statement did not name those targeted but a government source quoted by Reuters said Finance Minister Ignatius Chombo was among those detained. Mr Mugabe, 93, has dominated the impoverished country's political scene since independence from the UK in 1980.
It is not clear who is leading the military action. The UK Foreign Office advised Britons "currently in Harare to remain safely at home or in their accommodation until the situation becomes clearer", while the US embassy in Harare advised US citizens in Zimbabwe to "shelter in place" until further notice.
How did the military justify its move?
Soldiers overran the headquarters of the ZBC broadcaster after armoured vehicles took up position on roads around Harare on Tuesday.
Maj Gen Sibusiso Moyo went on air to say the military wished to "assure the nation that his Excellency the president... and his family are safe and sound and their security is guaranteed".
"We are only targeting criminals around him who are committing crimes... that are causing social and economic suffering in the country," he said.
"As soon as we have accomplished our mission, we expect that the situation will return to normalcy."
Other key points of the statement included:Other key points of the statement included:
The UK Foreign Office advised Britons "currently in Harare to remain safely at home or in their accommodation until the situation becomes clearer". It is not clear who is leading the military action. Army chief Gen Constantino Chiwenga, of inciting insurrection. Gen Chiwenga had said the army was prepared to act to end purges within the ruling Zanu-PF party.
The US embassy in Harare tweeted that it would be closed on Wednesday "due to ongoing uncertainty". Who has been detained?
It also advised US citizens in Zimbabwe to "shelter in place" until further notice. A government source told Reuters news agency that Finance Minister Ignatius Chombo had been detained.
Alex Magaisa, former adviser to Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, told the BBC he believes the military's claim that they haven't carried out a coup is untrue. He is a leading member of a faction of Zanu-PF led by Mr Mugabe's wife Grace.
Is this a coup?
Alex Magaisa, former adviser to Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, told the BBC he believed the military's claim that they haven't carried out a coup is untrue.
"They have decided not to call it a coup because they know that a coup does not sell, it will be condemned," he said."They have decided not to call it a coup because they know that a coup does not sell, it will be condemned," he said.
"But as far as authority is concerned it seems very clear that President Mugabe is now just a president in name and authority is now residing in the military.""But as far as authority is concerned it seems very clear that President Mugabe is now just a president in name and authority is now residing in the military."
The latest events came hours after Zimbabwe's ruling party accused the country's army chief of "treasonable conduct" after he warned of possible military intervention. Zanu-PF had accused Gen Chiwenga of "treasonable conduct" after he issued his warning that he army might intervene.
General Constantino Chiwenga had challenged 93-year-old President Mugabe after he sacked the vice-president. What do we know of the fighting?
Gen Chiwenga said the army was prepared to act to end purges within Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF party. The firing is coming from northern suburbs where Mr Mugabe and a number of government officials live, the BBC's Shingai Nyoka reports from Harare.
Tensions were raised further on Tuesday when armoured vehicles were seen taking up positions on roads outside Harare, although their purpose was unclear. A witness told AFP news agency it could be heard near Mr Mugabe's residence in the suburb of Borrowdale early on Wednesday,
Some staff at ZBC were manhandled when soldiers took over their offices in Harare late on Tuesday evening, sources told Reuters. Some staff at ZBC were manhandled when the soldiers moved in, sources told Reuters. Workers were told that they "should not worry", a source added, and that soldiers were only there to protect the site.
Workers were told that they "should not worry", a source added, and that soldiers were only there to protect the site. What was the political situation before the army acted?
The BBC's Shingai Nyoka, in Harare, said the sounds of heavy gunfire and artillery had been heard in northern suburbs where a number of government officials, including the president, live. Mr Mugabe sacked Mr Mnangagwa last week, amid a row over succession.
Gunfire was heard near Mr Mugabe's residence in the suburb of Borrowdale early on Wednesday, a witness told AFP news agency.
Mr Mugabe sacked Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa last week, amid a row over succession.
Mr Mnangagwa had previously been seen as an heir to the president, but First Lady Grace Mugabe is now the clear front-runner.Mr Mnangagwa had previously been seen as an heir to the president, but First Lady Grace Mugabe is now the clear front-runner.
The rivalry between Mrs Mugabe and Mr Mnangagwa has split Zanu-PF.The rivalry between Mrs Mugabe and Mr Mnangagwa has split Zanu-PF.
Last month, Mrs Mugabe warned of a possible coup plot, saying allies of Mr Mnangagwa were threatening the lives of those who didn't support him. Last month, Mrs Mugabe had warned of a possible coup plot, saying allies of Mr Mnangagwa were threatening the lives of those who didn't support him.
The Zanu-PF party said Gen Chiwenga's comments were "calculated to disturb national peace... [and] incite insurrection". Zanu-PF said Gen Chiwenga's comments were "calculated to disturb national peace... [and] incite insurrection".
The party said it would never succumb to military threats, and that it "reaffirms the primacy of politics over the gun".The party said it would never succumb to military threats, and that it "reaffirms the primacy of politics over the gun".
The leader of Zanu-PF's youth wing, Kudzai Chipanga, said the general did not have the full support of the entire military. Gen Chiwengahad said the "purging" within Zanu-PF was "clearly targeting members of the party with a liberation background", referring to the country's struggle for freedom from white minority rule.
"It is our country and future at stake and we will not let any individual military man interfere with the leader of the party and legitimately voted president of this country," he told reporters on Tuesday.
The youth wing is a strong supporter of Grace Mugabe.
Gen Chiwenga's warning of possible military intervention came on Monday at a news conference at army headquarters where he was surrounded by senior army officers.
He said the "purging" within Zanu-PF was "clearly targeting members of the party with a liberation background", referring to the country's struggle for freedom from white minority rule.
"We must remind those behind the current treacherous shenanigans that when it comes to matters of protecting our revolution, the military will not hesitate to step in," he said.
Mr Mnangagwa is one such veteran of the 1970s war which ended white minority rule.Mr Mnangagwa is one such veteran of the 1970s war which ended white minority rule.