Embattled President Mugabe resigns
Wild celebrations break out in the capital
Military thanked for helping force Mugabe out
US and UK welcome end of his 37-year rule
Resignation came as parliament began impeachment proceedings
New president expected to take office on Wednesday
Lawmakers in Zimbabwe are expected to meet today to initiate the impeachment of President Robert Mugabe.
There have been varied opinions on how long the process would take.
Tendai Biti, the leader of the opposition People's Democratic Party, has told the BBC's Newsday programme that the impeachment process could be complete in a week.
Listen to his comments below:
South Africa's President Jacob Zuma has arrived in Angola's capital, Luanda, for talks with regional leaders on the Zimbabwean crisis, reports the BBC's Mliton Nkosi from Johannesburg.
Civil society groups in Zimbabwe have rejected their intervention, saying most leaders were allied with the embattled President Robert Mugabe, who has ruled Zimbabwe since independence in 1980.
Only Botswana's President Ian Khama has publicly called for Mr Mugabe's resignation, saying presidents were not monarchs.
Image source, AFPUnlike Mr Zuma (L), Mr Khama (C) is a fierce critic of Mr Mugabe (R)
Zimbabwe's President Robert is entitled to legal representation during impeachment proceedings, opposition MP Tendai Biti has said, raising doubts about the ruling party's plan to remove him from office by the end of Wednesday.
UK-based Channel 4 News' international editor has tweeted:
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Image source, AFPMr Mnangagwa was last seen on 4 November during a public rally
Zimbabwe's sacked Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa has rejected meeting with President Robert Mugabe, despite army chief Gen Constantine Chiwenga saying yesterday that a meeting between the two leaders would take place as part of an agreed road map to resolve the crisis in the southern African state
In a statement, Mr Mnangagwa called on Mr Mugabe to "resign immediately to avoid public humiliation":
Quote MessageThe people of Zimbabwe have spoken with one voice and it is my appeal to President Mugabe that he should take heed of this clarion call by the people of Zimbabwe to resign, so that the country can move forward and preserve his legacy."
The arm chief also said yesterday that Mr Mnangagwa was due to return to the country shortly.
However, the former vice-president said he would not return until his security is guaranteed.
Mr Mugabe sacked Mr Mnangagwa about two weeks, triggering the dramatic developments that led to the military takeover.
Mr Mnangagwa said the current crisis could not be resolved by the two of them but had to involve all Zimbabweans.
Image source, AFPSouth African President Jacob Zuma (L) is backing his ex-wife, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma (C), over his deputy, Cyril Rampahosa (R)
Like Zimbabwe, neighbouring South Africa urgently needs a change of leader, the parliamentary chief whip of South Africa's governing African National Congress (ANC), Jackson Mthembu, has said, Reuters news agency reports.
The ANC is due to elect a new party leader at its national conference next month, but President Jacob Zuma - dogged by allegations of corruption and using the intelligence services to target his opponents - is expected to remain as president until the 2019 elections.
In a Reuters interview, Mr Mthembu said that whoever the party chooses next month, the incoming leadership should tell Mr Zuma to step down.
"You can't keep him there," he added.
Quote MessageIn Zimbabwe they call that bloodless corrections ... We need to make the corrections immediately after the conference."
Mr Mthembu is backing Deputy President Cyril Rampahosa as the next ANC leader while Mr Zuma has thrown his weight behind ex-wife and former African Union Commission chief Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.
Zimbabwe's only independent MP, Temba Mliswa, has tweeted that he will hand in his resignation if parliament fails to impeach President Robert Mugabe - the world's oldest ruler, at the age of 93.
He says that the people's call for Mr Mugabe to step down should override the interests of anyone in the ruling Zanu-PF party who feel the veteran leader should stay in office:
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A Zimbabwean journalist tweeted yesterday that 230 out of 260 MPs back the impeachment plan:
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Zimbabwe's embattled President Robert Mugabe has convened his first cabinet meeting since last week's army takeover, but only a few ministers are said to have attended, a BBC correspondent in the capital, Harare, tweets:
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Image source, ReutersChris Mutsvangwa told reporters that people should gather in the capital to force Mr Mugabe out of office
Zimbabwe's war veterans have called for "immediate protests" against President Robert Mugabe to pressure him to step down, the AFP news agency reports.
Zimbabwe War Veterans' Association chairman Chris Mutsvangwa told reporters that people should gather in the capital, Harare, to force Mr Mugabe out of office:
Quote MessageAll the people must leave what they are doing, come to Harare... We just want to see the back of Mugabe immediately. The protests must begin now, we cannot have another hour of Mugabe."
He said people should march to Mr Mugabe's private residence, known as Blue Roof.
The veteran association was a staunch backer of Mr Mugabe but are now allied to sacked Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa whose removal sparked the current crisis.
Meanwhile, MPs from the governing Zanu-PF will meet today to discuss plans to impeach Mr Mugabe after he ignored an ultimatum to resign.
Andrew Harding
BBC News, Harare
Image source, AFPEmmerson Mnangagwa is nicknamed "crocodile"
The man primed to replace Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe has launched a bitter attack on the 93 year old, and has urged him to step down.
Emmerson Mnangawa more or less accused President Mugabe of trying to have him killed, and said he would not return to Zimbabwe until he is sure he will be safe.
The statement from the former vice-president gave an extraordinary insight into the vicious power struggles that preceded last week's military intervention.
Mr Mnangagwa said his security guards had warned him of plans to "eliminate" him, after he was sacked earlier this month. He promptly fled to South Africa.
Last night, Zimbabwe's army generals confirmed that President Mugabe and Mr Mnangagwa had spoken by phone and claimed that Mr Mnangagwa had agreed to return home as part of a transitional roadmap.
That roadmap now sounds like wishful thinking, as parliament here prepares to impeach the president, and Mr Mnangawa angrily demands that his former boss respects the will of the people or faces humiliation.
Image source, AFPZimbabwe's former vice-president, whose sacking led to last week's army takeover, has urged President Robert Mugabe to resign immediately.
Emmerson Mnangagwa said he fled abroad two weeks ago when he learned of a plot to kill him, and he would not return until he was sure of his security.
The ruling Zanu-PF party is expected to begin impeachment proceedings in parliament later on Tuesday.
Mr Mugabe is accused of allowing his wife to "usurp constitutional power".
Speaking from an undisclosed location on Tuesday, Mr Mnangagwa said the 93-year-old president should heed the "clarion call" of his people and step down.
In a statement, he said:
Quote Message"I told the President that I would not return home now until I am satisfied of my personal security, because of the manner and treatment given to me upon being fired.
Our African proverb of the day:
Quote MessageA bachelor does not know when he passes the house of his future parents-in-law."
Sent by Sunday Itodo in Abuja, Nigeria
Click here and scroll to the bottom to send us your African proverbs.
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