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Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe resigns, ending 37-year rule 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 the decision was voluntary and he had made it to allow a smooth transfer 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 and sparked wild celebrations on the nation's streets.
Lawmakers roared in jubilation and people have begun celebrating in the streets. The ruling Zanu-PF party says former vice-president Emmerson Mnangagwa will succeed Mr Mugabe, in power since 1980.
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 Mnangagwa's sacking earlier this month triggered a political crisis.
The letter did not mention who would take over from Mr Mugabe, who has been in power since independence in 1980. It had been seen by many as an attempt to clear the way for Grace Mugabe to succeed her husband as leader and riled the military leadership, who stepped in and put Mr Mugabe under house arrest.
The constitution says it should be the current vice-president, Phelekezela Mphoko, a supporter of Grace Mugabe, Mr Mugabe's wife. After the resignation announcement, lawmakers roared in jubilation.
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 Mugabe, 93, was until his resignation the world's oldest leader. He had previously refused to quit despite last week's military takeover and days of protests.
Mr Mudenda said moves were under way to ensure a new leader could take over by late on Wednesday. According to the constitution his successor should be the current vice-president, Phelekezela Mphoko, a supporter of Grace Mugabe.
But Zanu-PF chief whip Lovemore Matuke told Reuters news agency that Mr Mnangagwa would be in office "within 48 hours".
Speaking from an undisclosed location earlier on Tuesday, Mr Mnangagwa said he had fled abroad two weeks ago when he learned of a plot to kill him.
'Let him rest in his last days'
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.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.
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 sparked joy 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 lifeRobert Mugabe - Timeline of a political life