Zimbabwe opposition leader warns of possible uprising

DUBLIN, Ireland (Reuters) -- Zimbabwe's opposition leader, branding President Robert Mugabe as the country's biggest liability, warned on Friday of the possibility of a Yugoslavia-style uprising to topple him from power.

"He has become the biggest national liability we have got," said Morgan Tsvangirai of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), which performed strongly in recent parliamentary elections and threatens Mugabe's 20-year grip on power.

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Tsvangirai said the opposition had not ruled out a Yugoslav style popular uprising to oust Mugabe, in power since the former Rhodesia gained independence from Britain in 1980.

"That is being seriously considered, but although there are parallels (between the two situations), they are certainly not exactly the same," he told Irish RTE radio.

"We have to ensure that we go through a process of organizing that will at least deliver when that mass action is taken," he added during a visit to Dublin.

A popular uprising in Yugoslavia last month forced Slobodan Milosevic to admit defeat in a election and allowed Vojislav Kostunica to take the presidency.

The MDC won 57 of 150 parliamentary seats in Zimbabwe's June elections and poses the strongest challenge Mugabe has faced during two decades in power.

Mugabe, 76, is fighting for his political life in a deepening economic crisis which has sparked riots over soaring food prices.

"All pressure must be applied so that he has to take an honorable exit out of this situation," said Tsvangirai.

The MDC is trying to impeach Mugabe for the violent campaign waged by his ZANU-PF movement supporters before the election.

Tsvangirai, in Dublin for the launch of an alliance of four European development agencies, questioned Mugabe's mental state.

"Over the last three years, he has had serious lapses of logical thinking and rational thinking and I think that's where the problem is," he said.

Copyright 2000 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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