Zimbabwe’s Mugabe visits Singapore hospital for check-up
Zimbabwe's former president Robert Mugabe, who was ousted from power last month, visited a Singapore hospital Friday during a trip to the city-state for a medical check-up.
It was the first time he has been seen in public since he was forced to resign after a military takeover brought a sudden end to his authoritarian 37-year reign.
The 93-year-old was seen leaving a lift in Gleneagles Hospital in downtown Singapore around midday (0400 GMT), wearing a white shirt and black trousers, and accompanied by eight people, AFP journalists said.
He walked quickly out of the building before he and his party were driven off in two cars.
Two hospital employees, speaking anonymously as they were not authorized to talk to the media, confirmed to AFP that Mugabe had visited. A spokeswoman for Gleneagles declined to comment, citing patient confidentiality.
His ex-spokesman, George Charamba, said Thursday that Mugabe was visiting Singapore for a medical check-up as "part of his package as a retired president to travel overseas," adding the new government was keen to show him respect.
The military stepped in on November 14 and ushered President Emmerson Mnangagwa into office after a power struggle with supporters of Mugabe's wife, Grace, 52, who had emerged as his chosen successor.
Mugabe, who ruled Zimbabwe since independence in 1980, is accused of brutal repression and bringing the country to economic ruin.
He has been in increasingly frail health and has reportedly battled prostate cancer.
In recent years, he has made several trips to Singapore, a popular medical tourism destination, for undisclosed medical reasons.
Mnangagwa was formerly one of Mugabe's closest allies, and the ruling ZANU-PF Party remains in control.
Mugabe will miss the party's annual conference in Harare on Friday, when Mnangagwa is expected to be confirmed as its candidate for elections next year.
(Source: AFP)
Iran dismisses UK, Australia’s ‘baseless’ claims, urges end to interventions in West Asia
Islamophobic graffiti found in Sydney suburb sparks outrage
Nobel Peace Prize winner Nihon Hidankyo calls for nuclear-free world
American warplane downed after Yemeni attacks 'baffled' US air defense: Ansarullah
VIDEO | Yemenis praise the military for its successful operations against Israel
VIDEO | Israel continues to bomb Gaza homes
VIDEO | An insider's view of the country: Meybod City in Yazd
‘All wars have rules. All of those rules have been broken’ by Israel
VIDEO | Report flags India’s violation of rights of Rohingya detainees
Turkey's foreign minister meets Syria's de facto leader in Damascus
VIDEO | US Syria plots
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
