HARARE, Zimbabwe : Zimbabwe's army said Wednesday it has President Robert Mugabe and his wife in custody and is securing government offices and patrolling the capital's streets following a night of unrest that included a military takeover of the state broadcaster.
The night's action triggered speculation of a coup, but the military's supporters praised it as a "bloodless correction."
For the first time, this southern African nation is seeing the military oppose Mugabe, the world's oldest head of state and one of the longest-serving authoritarian rulers.
Mugabe has been in power since Zimbabwe's independence from white minority rule in 1980.
Armed soldiers in armored personnel carriers stationed themselves at key points in Harare, while Zimbabweans formed long lines at banks in order to draw the limited cash available, a routine chore in the country's ongoing financial crisis. People looked at their phones to read about the army takeover and others went to work or to shops.
In an address to the nation after taking control of the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, Major General Sibusiso Moyo said early Wednesday the military is targeting "criminals" around Mugabe, and sought to reassure the country that order will be restored.
"Their security is guaranteed," Major General Sibusiso Moyo said.
"We wish to make it abundantly clear that this is not a military takeover," he said. "We are only targeting criminals around (Mugabe) who are committing crimes that are causing social and economic suffering in the country in order to bring them to justice."
Moyo added "as soon as we have accomplished our mission, we expect that the situation will return to normalcy."
The army spokesman called on churches to pray for the nation.
He urged other security forces to "cooperate for the good of our country," warning that "any provocation will be met with an appropriate response."
All troops were ordered to return to barracks immediately, with all leave canceled, said Moyo.
The world responds
President of regional heavyweight South Africa Jacob Zuma issued a statement calling for Zimbabwe to avoid "unconstitutional changes of government" and "urged the Zimbabwean Defence Force to ensure... the maintenance of peace and security".
Pretoria also announced it was sending its defence and intelligence ministers to Zimbabwe on behalf of the southern African regional bloc to meet army chiefs and Mugabe.
The European Union called on "all the relevant players to move from confrontation to dialogue."
The United States said its embassy would be closed to the public on Wednesday and called on its citizens in the country to "shelter in place".
Britain issued a special travel alert to call on its citizens to "avoid political activity", warning "the authorities have sometimes used force to suppress demonstrations".
The days ahead
The army's dramatic seizure of power from the ailing liberation leader turned autocrat has stunned the nation and plunged it into uncertainty.
Mnangagwa has reportedly left South Africa by plane. If so, it could be that he may return to Zimbabwe to try to broker a resolution.
However South Africa's warning - together with its dispatch of envoys - could complicate any efforts to hand power to an unelected civilian caretaker government.
An extraordinary meeting of the ruling ZANU-PF party intended to smooth party divisions was scheduled for next month but this has now been thrown into doubt.
