Zimbabwe latest: Protesters gather for anti-Mugabe rally


crowd with flag, sign reading Mugabe must go, people smiling
Image caption Exuberant crowds gathered on Zimbabwean streets
Tens of thousands of people have gathered in Zimbabwe's capital Harare for a day of protests to demand the resignation of President Robert Mugabe.
The rally is supported by the military which staged a takeover on Wednesday.
BBC correspondents say people are cheering soldiers in the crowd.
Regional branches of the ruling Zanu-PF party as well as war veterans - who until last year were loyal to the president - are also saying Mr Mugabe should quit.
Mr Mugabe, 93, had been under house arrest for days, but on Friday he made his first public appearance.
He attended a university graduation ceremony in the capital.
The military made its move after a power struggle over the successor for Mr Mugabe, who has held power for 37 years.
He sacked Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa last week, apparently to pave the way for his wife Grace Mugabe - who is four decades younger than him - to take over the presidency instead.
The military said it was "engaging" with Mr Mugabe and would advise the public on the outcome of talks "as soon as possible".
Mr Mugabe has led Zimbabwe since it gained independence from Britain in 1980.
Media captionMr Mugabe wore blue and yellow robes and a mortarboard hat
Mr Mugabe opened the ceremony at Zimbabwe's Open University, where he is chancellor.
One of the people he conferred a degree upon was Marry Chiwenga, the wife of the general who detained him on Wednesday, the state broadcaster reports.
Grace Mugabe was not present. It had been thought she had left the country but it emerged on Thursday that she was at home with Mr Mugabe.

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