No resignation announced by Mugabe yet

Harare, Nov 20 : Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe has resisted mounting pressure to step down as a President, telling the nation that he will preside over a ruling party congress next month.

The 93-year-old Zimbabwean leader had been widely expected to announce his resignation as Zimbabwe's head of state and government on Sunday, five days after a surprise military takeover in which he was placed under house arrest increasing doubts.

But in his much-anticipated TV address from his State House office, Mugabe acknowledged criticism but said the country first needs to "return to normalcy" without making any statement on his position.

"Whatever the pros and cons of how they [the army] went about their operation, I, as commander-in-chief, do acknowledge their all concerns," said Mugabe, seated alongside army commanders.

"We must learn to forgive and resolve contradictions real or perceived in a comradely Zimbabwean spirit," he further added.

It was a dramatic turn of multiple events in a week that has seen the army taking control and the streets of Harare filled with tens of thousands of people expressing support for the military's action and calling for the president to step down.