Zimbabwe coup in pictures: Striking images show army grasping power from Robert Mugabe
ZIMBABWE was plunged into chaos on Tuesday night after tanks rolled into Harare to put President Robert Mugabe under house arrest. Here are the most powerful images from the army takeover.
zimbabwe coup pictures robert mugabe military takeover army tanks photos
Military officials have denied carrying out a coup d'etat, but President Mugabe and his family are now under house arrest until the situation is solved.
The 93-year-old leader, who has been in charge of the south African country for 37-years, is believed to be "safe and sound".
It is understood that the takeover was carried out in opposition to Mr Mugabe's wife, Grace Mugabe, succeeding her husband as President.
Powerful photographs captured yesterday on the busy streets of Harare show heavily-armed soldiers redirecting traffic as the city ground to a halt.
The tense situation was heightened by military roadblocks with heavy machine guns mounted on top of tanks.
A lone woman carrying shopping bags was snapped defiantly walking past a tank entrenched on the road leading to Harare's parliament building.
The parliament itself was sealed off by scores of soldiers, with a tank ominously parked outside the building's front door.
Zimbabwe coup: Tanks rolled into the capital Harare stopping the city in its tracks
Zimbabwe: Army leaders have denied carrying out a planned military coup
Elsewhere, a photo shared on Twitter appeared to show a group of policemen sitting in a line, surrounded by a group of soldiers.
We are only targeting criminals around Mugabe who are committing crimes
Major General Sibusiso B Moyo addressed the nation on television, urging people to stay calm, as the army carries out its operation.
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.
"As soon as we have accomplished our mission, we expect that the situation will return to normalcy."
Zimbabwe: Tanks and armed soldiers blocked off all roads to Zimbabwe's Parliament
Zimbabwe: For many residents of Harare it is business as usual
But for many people across Zimbabwe it is already business as usual. One soldier was photographed marching through Harare's central business district as men in suits pass him by.
Bulawayo-based newspaper The Chronicle, quoted one worker who said: "The army has urged us to come to work. What we want is peace and prosperity in this country."
It yet remains to be seen how the people of Zimbabwe react to the take-over of power. One Harare resident told PA: "I don't think I see how anything could possibly be different.
"If we wanted to see any change we would have to assassinate about 5,000 people all feeding from the same trough."
Professor Alex Magaisa, of Kent University, is certain that the people have grown tired of their president.
Speaking to Bloomberg TV, he argued that Mr Mugabe's presidency was fraught with corruption and rigged election results.
But despite the turmoil, a young man in Harare was photographed polishing a "long live the legacy" poster of Robert Mugabe on the side of a minibus.
Zimbabwe: President Mugabe still has strong support among the people
Zimbabwe: Tanks in Harare were used to divert traffic
Mr Mugabe used to be seen as an anti-colonial hero who fought for Zimbabwe's independence.
But he turned into a tyrannical despot who clung onto power through unsanctioned use of violence and intimidation.
In the event that the President chooses to step down under pressure, he could be replaced by former ally and ousted vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who has the firm backing of the army.