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| Mugabe welcomed home by thousands | Mugabe welcomed home by thousands |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Thousands of Zimbabweans have greeted President Robert Mugabe on his return from the African Union summit where he defended his controversial re-election. | Thousands of Zimbabweans have greeted President Robert Mugabe on his return from the African Union summit where he defended his controversial re-election. |
| The supporters were ferried in buses to Harare airport, where they danced and sang election campaign anthems. | The supporters were ferried in buses to Harare airport, where they danced and sang election campaign anthems. |
| Meanwhile, military police have been seen forcibly closing down ruling party bases in townships used to intimidate people ahead of last week's election. | Meanwhile, military police have been seen forcibly closing down ruling party bases in townships used to intimidate people ahead of last week's election. |
| The opposition has said violence must end before talks on sharing power. | The opposition has said violence must end before talks on sharing power. |
| The African leaders called for a unity government after Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai pulled out of last Friday's presidential run-off, citing state-sponsored political violence. | The African leaders called for a unity government after Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai pulled out of last Friday's presidential run-off, citing state-sponsored political violence. |
| Shock | |
| Zimbabwean journalist Brian Hungwe said ruling party Zanu-PF youths mobilised people in the townships around the capital, Harare, to go to the airport to welcome Mr Mugabe home. | Zimbabwean journalist Brian Hungwe said ruling party Zanu-PF youths mobilised people in the townships around the capital, Harare, to go to the airport to welcome Mr Mugabe home. |
| He also says it has come as a shock to many township residents to see the security forces turning against Zanu-PF supporters, beating them up and telling them to shut their bases. | He also says it has come as a shock to many township residents to see the security forces turning against Zanu-PF supporters, beating them up and telling them to shut their bases. |
| It is thought that now that the elections are over, the party wants to get rid of the unpopular bases and disband the militia, he reports. | It is thought that now that the elections are over, the party wants to get rid of the unpopular bases and disband the militia, he reports. |
| Since last Friday's run-off, the MDC says nine of its supporters have been murdered, hundreds more beaten and forced to leave their homes. | Since last Friday's run-off, the MDC says nine of its supporters have been murdered, hundreds more beaten and forced to leave their homes. |
| Almost 100 people have been killed and 200,000 left homeless since the MDC won the March vote, the opposition says. | Almost 100 people have been killed and 200,000 left homeless since the MDC won the March vote, the opposition says. |
| Some of those who say they were affected by the violence have gathered outside the US embassy in Harare. | |
| Aid organisations provided food for about 150 men overnight and about 50 women and children were taken away to shelter elsewhere. | |
| Another 50 people joined the crowd on Friday morning. | |
| They say they have nowhere else to go, but they have not been let inside the embassy grounds. |