Mugabe says Africa lacks courage to oust him

Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe has said African nations lack the courage to use military force to oust his government, the state-run Herald newspaper reported yesterday.

The comment, made during a high-level meeting of Mugabe's ZANU-PF party on Thursday, came amid growing international pressure on the Zimbabwean leader, whose critics say his policies have wrecked the economy.

Botswana's foreign minister and Kenya's Prime Minister are among those in Africa who have called for an end to his 28-year rule.

"How could African leaders ever topple Robert Mugabe, organise an army to come? It is not easy," the newspaper quoted Mr Mugabe as saying in his party's central committee meeting.

"I do not know of any African country that is brave enough to do that."

Most of Zimbabwe's neighbours reject military intervention in Zimbabwe. South Africa, the regional powerhouse, has repeatedly voiced its opposition to the idea.

Western countries have urged Mr Mugabe to step down but have not gone so far as to openly support using force.