Mugabe's Hour-Long Tirade Against Britain

President Mugabe celebrated Zimbabwe’s Independence Day yesterday with ablistering attack on Britain, accusing it of trying to recolonise thecountry and of paying off his own people to turn against him.

In an hour-long rant, mostly in his native Shona, Mr Mugabe told about 15,000cheering supporters at a packed stadium in Harare: “Down with the British.”The fiery address was Mr Mugabe’s first public speech since the electionsthree weeks ago. Official presidential results are yet to be released and abrutal campaign of intimidation has been unleashed against the opposition.

Yesterday, as the rest of the country tried gamely to enjoy the publicholiday, a judge convened the High Court to dismiss an opposition petitioncalling a halt to a planned recount of parliamentary results that handedthem control of the assembly.