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| Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe resigns, ending 37-year rule | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe has resigned, parliament speaker Jacob Mudenda has said. | Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe has resigned, parliament speaker Jacob Mudenda has said. |
| A letter from Mr Mugabe said that the decision was voluntary and that he had made it to allow a smooth transition of power. | A letter from Mr Mugabe said that the decision was voluntary and that he had made it to allow a smooth transition of power. |
| The surprise announcement halted an impeachment hearing that had begun against him. | The surprise announcement halted an impeachment hearing that had begun against him. |
| Lawmakers roared in jubilation and people have begun celebrating in the streets. | Lawmakers roared in jubilation and people have begun celebrating in the streets. |
| Mr Mugabe, 93, was until now the world's oldest leader. He had previously refused to resign despite last week's military takeover and days of protests. | Mr Mugabe, 93, was until now the world's oldest leader. He had previously refused to resign despite last week's military takeover and days of protests. |
| The letter did not mention who would take over from Mr Mugabe, who has been in power since independence in 1980. | |
| The constitution says it should be the current vice-president, Phelekezela Mphoko, a supporter of Grace Mugabe, Mr Mugabe's wife. | The constitution says it should be the current vice-president, Phelekezela Mphoko, a supporter of Grace Mugabe, Mr Mugabe's wife. |
| But many see it as likely that former vice-president Emmerson Mnangagwa, Grace Mugabe's chief rival and a man whose sacking earlier this month triggered the crisis, will be the next president. | |
| Mr Mudenda said moves were under way to ensure a new leader could take over by late on Wednesday. | Mr Mudenda said moves were under way to ensure a new leader could take over by late on Wednesday. |
| UK Prime Minister Theresa May said Mr Mugabe's resignation "provides Zimbabwe with an opportunity to forge a new path free of the oppression that characterised his rule". | UK Prime Minister Theresa May said Mr Mugabe's resignation "provides Zimbabwe with an opportunity to forge a new path free of the oppression that characterised his rule". |
| She said that former colonial power Britain, "as Zimbabwe's oldest friend", will do all it can to support free and fair elections and the rebuilding of the Zimbabwean economy. | She said that former colonial power Britain, "as Zimbabwe's oldest friend", will do all it can to support free and fair elections and the rebuilding of the Zimbabwean economy. |
| Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai told the BBC he hoped that Zimbabwe was on a "new trajectory" that would include free and fair elections. He said Mr Mugabe should be allowed to "go and rest for his last days". | Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai told the BBC he hoped that Zimbabwe was on a "new trajectory" that would include free and fair elections. He said Mr Mugabe should be allowed to "go and rest for his last days". |
| In other reaction: | In other reaction: |
| Robert Mugabe won elections during his 37 years in power, but over the past 15 years these were marred by violence against political opponents. | |
| He presided over a deepening economic crisis in Zimbabwe, where people are on average 15% poorer now than they were in 1980. | He presided over a deepening economic crisis in Zimbabwe, where people are on average 15% poorer now than they were in 1980. |
| However, Mr Mugabe was not forced out after decades in power by a popular mass movement but rather as a result of political splits within his Zanu-PF party. | However, Mr Mugabe was not forced out after decades in power by a popular mass movement but rather as a result of political splits within his Zanu-PF party. |
| His dismissal of Mr Mnangagwa two weeks ago was seen by many as clearing the way for Grace Mugabe to succeed her husband as leader. | |
| It riled the military leadership, who stepped in and put Mr Mugabe under house arrest. | It riled the military leadership, who stepped in and put Mr Mugabe under house arrest. |
| The leader of the influential liberation war veterans - former allies of Mr Mugabe - said after the army takeover that Mr Mugabe was a "dictator", who "as he became old, surrendered his court to a gang of thieves around his wife". | The leader of the influential liberation war veterans - former allies of Mr Mugabe - said after the army takeover that Mr Mugabe was a "dictator", who "as he became old, surrendered his court to a gang of thieves around his wife". |
| Yet despite huge demonstrations in the streets celebrating what seemed like his impending demise, Robert Mugabe had until now refused to step down. | Yet despite huge demonstrations in the streets celebrating what seemed like his impending demise, Robert Mugabe had until now refused to step down. |
| 'It has happened' | 'It has happened' |
| His decision to finally resign has sparked wild celebrations in the streets. | His decision to finally resign has sparked wild celebrations in the streets. |
| "We are just so happy that things are finally going to change," Togo Ndhlalambi, a hairdresser, told the AFP news agency. | "We are just so happy that things are finally going to change," Togo Ndhlalambi, a hairdresser, told the AFP news agency. |
| "I am the happiest person under the sun right now, because I always believed that Mugabe was going to step down in my lifetime and it has happened," human rights activist Linda Masarira told the BBC. | "I am the happiest person under the sun right now, because I always believed that Mugabe was going to step down in my lifetime and it has happened," human rights activist Linda Masarira told the BBC. |
| "And now going forward it's time for the opposition to reorganise and ensure that we will have a government that cares for the people. And everyone has to be included." | "And now going forward it's time for the opposition to reorganise and ensure that we will have a government that cares for the people. And everyone has to be included." |
| Robert Mugabe - Timeline of a political life | Robert Mugabe - Timeline of a political life |