世界の注目ニュース WORLD ver.

【APPARENT COUP IN ZIMBABWE】

We head now to Zimbabwe.

where an apparent military coup

has President Robert Mugabe and

his family under house arrest.

While the military denies it is staging a coup.

It's currently in control of the African nation

and has deployed armored vehicle to streets.

On Wednesday.soldiers took over the headquarters of the state broadcaster

and announced the military had seized power.

Mugabe has been in power for nearly 40years

since Zimbabwe became independent.in 1980.

He has been criticized as a ruthless dictator by Western nations,

but is still seen as a freedom fighter

by many in country.

At 93,he is oldest national president in the world.

A power struggle appears to be intensifying

before next year's presidential election.

Observers Say military may have decided to act

after Mugabe sacked his vice president last week

who was expected to succeed him.

It is believed that Mugabe may have been trying

to pave the way for his wife Grace to take over.