Embattled President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe makes first public appearance since his house arrest (Photo:Al Jazeera)
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has appeared in public for the first time since the army's takeover earlier this week.
Mugabe, who was believed to be under house arrest, attended a university graduation ceremony in Harare on Friday, where he was welcomed by a cheering crowd of supporters.
Dressed in a blue academic gown and hat, he entered the ceremony venue surrounded by security personnel, and held a speech.
This came after soldiers took control of the headquarters of the state broadcaster ZBC and blocked access to government offices on Wednesday, while denying it was part of a coup against Mugabe's government.
The president has refused to step down, amid mounting pressure from the army to allow a smooth and bloodless transition.
The military seeks to reinstate former Vice President Emerson Mnangagwa as first vice president and then as leader of a transitional administration.
According to an army statement broadcast on Zimbabwe state television on Friday, "significant progress" was made in mediation talks aimed at ending Mugabe's military house arrest.
-Al Jazeera
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has appeared in public for the first time since the army's takeover earlier this week.
Mugabe, who was believed to be under house arrest, attended a university graduation ceremony in Harare on Friday, where he was welcomed by a cheering crowd of supporters.
Dressed in a blue academic gown and hat, he entered the ceremony venue surrounded by security personnel, and held a speech.
This came after soldiers took control of the headquarters of the state broadcaster ZBC and blocked access to government offices on Wednesday, while denying it was part of a coup against Mugabe's government.
The president has refused to step down, amid mounting pressure from the army to allow a smooth and bloodless transition.
The military seeks to reinstate former Vice President Emerson Mnangagwa as first vice president and then as leader of a transitional administration.
According to an army statement broadcast on Zimbabwe state television on Friday, "significant progress" was made in mediation talks aimed at ending Mugabe's military house arrest.
-Al Jazeera
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