Robert Mugabe appears in public for the first time since coup refusing to resign as president

ZIMBABWE'S President Robert Mugabe has appeared in public for the first time since his alleged ouster earlier this week debunking rumours that he has been placed under arrest and is no longer the country's leader.

On Tuesday, Zimbabwe's military took over key positions in the capital Harare and announced that it was arresting so-called criminals close to the president. Amid fears that there was a full-scale military takeover, the putschists were keen to stress that this was not a coup though and that President Mugabe was still in power.

In what is now being described as a show of defiance,  President Mugabe, 93, attended a university graduation ceremony today, making his first public appearance since the debacle started. He arrived at the ceremony in the capital Harare, dressed in a blue academic gown and tasselled hat.

Zimbabwe's generals took over late on Tuesday after vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa was sacked and President Mugabe’s wife Grace emerged in pole position to succeed her increasingly frail husband. Analysts say the military leadership was strongly opposed to Grace’s rise, while Mr Mnangagwa, 75, has close ties to the defence establishment.

Earlier today, President Mugabe and the army chiefs held talks as the takeover appeared to signal his imminent exit from office after 37 years in power since Zimbabwe won independence from Britain in 1980. Mr Mnangagwa, who is a leading candidate to succeed President Mugabe, flew back to Harare yesterday after fleeing the country when he was sacked last week.

However, President Mugabe is reported to have refused to resign, insisting that he remains the only legitimate ruler of the country. However, pressure is mounting on the 93-year-old former guerrilla to accept offers of a graceful exit.

One political source said: “It is a sort of stand-off, a stalemate. They are insisting the president must finish his term.”

Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, has called for President Mugabe’s departure in the interest of the people. It appears that Zimbabwe's army wants President Mugabe to go quietly and allow a smooth and bloodless transition to Mr Mnangagwa, to prevent him handing over power to his wife, Grace, 41 years his junior, who has built a following among the ruling party’s youth wing.