Zimbabwe: Robert Mugabe under house arrest after military seize Harare but deny coup - as it happened

Military says 'as soon as we have accomplished our mission, we expect that the situation will return to normalcy'

Zimbabwe's 'military takeover' explained

Zimbabwe's military says it has seized power to target "criminals" around President Robert Mugabe, who it said is "safe and sound" in custody.

The army said it was securing government offices and patrolling the capital's streets, after a night of unrest which included a military takeover of the state broadcaster.

The action triggered speculation of a coup, but the military's supporters praised it as a "bloodless correction".

Read our rolling coverage of Wednesday's events, as they happened, below:

"We wish to make it abundantly clear that this is not a military takeover," Zimbabwe Major General SB Moyo, Chief of Staff Logistics, said on television.

"We are only targeting criminals around [Mr Mugabe] who are committing crimes that are causing social and economic suffering in the country in order to bring them to justice.

"As soon as we have accomplished our mission, we expect that the situation will return to normalcy."

Neither Mr Mugabe nor his wife Grace, who has been vying to succeed her husband as president, have been seen or heard from.

At least three explosions were heard in the capital, Harare, overnight, and military vehicles were seen in the streets.

The army has been praised by the nation's war veterans for carrying out "a bloodless correction of gross abuse of power."

The military will return Zimbabwe to "genuine democracy" and make the country a "modern model nation," Chris Mutsvangwa, chairman of the war veterans' association, told the Associated Press.

The US Embassy closed to the public on Wednesday and encouraged citizens to shelter in place, citing "the ongoing political uncertainty through the night."

The British Embassy issued a similar warning, citing "reports of unusual military activity."

Key Points

• Military seizes power
• President Robert Mugabe under house arrest
• Army detains Finance Minister as 'criminals' rounded up
• Explosions heard as soldiers take over state broadcaster
• British nationals warned to stay indoors

[15 November 2017 09:38 · Samuel Osborne]

[15 November 2017 09:46 · Samuel Osborne]

Zimbabwe's largest daily newspaper, The Herald, has published its first story since the military takeover.

The article says the action "does not represent a military takeover".

[15 November 2017 09:52 · Samuel Osborne]

A representative for Zanu PF in the UK has told the BBC President Robert Mugabe is still in charge, but the ruling party was being "realigned" as part of the army's actions.

[15 November 2017 10:04 · Samuel Osborne]

[15 November 2017 10:09 · Samuel Osborne]

The Zimbabwean military is in charge of a paramilitary police support unit depot in Harare and has disarmed police officers there, an army source told Reuters.

"They are now in charge of all armoury, all gates and roads leading in or out of the camp. Arcturus Road [which leads to the camp] is closed and all Support Unit details with guns have been disarmed," the source said.

[15 November 2017 10:28 · Samuel Osborne]

South Africa's President, Jacob Zuma, is sending a special envoy to Zimbabwe to meet with President Robert Mugabe and the Zimbabwean army, Reuters reports.

Mr Zuma is doing this in his capacity as chair of the Southern African Development Community.

[15 November 2017 10:28 · Samuel Osborne]

Mr Zuma said he spoke to President Mugabe earlier this morning, who indicated he was confined to his home but said he was fine.

[15 November 2017 10:31 · Samuel Osborne]

Boris Johnson has said it is important everyone refrains from violence in Zimbabwe.

The foreign secretary said the situation is very fluid and it is hard to say how it will turn out.

He went on to he was monitoring the situation and that Britain wants to see a stable and successful Zimbabwe. 

[15 November 2017 10:45 · Samuel Osborne]

"It's very fluid and it's hard to say exactly how this will turn out," Mr Johnson said. "The most important point to make is that everybody wants to see a stable and successful Zimbabwe and I think we are really appealing for everybody to refrain from violence."

[15 November 2017 10:51 · Samuel Osborne]