Several blasts heard in Zimbabwe capital

HARARE - Several loud explosions were heard in central Harare in the early hours of Wednesday, two days after the military threatened to "step in" to end the political tension caused by the firing of the possible successor to President Robert Mugabe.

According to reports, soldiers were deployed across the Zimbabwe capital and seized the state broadcaster, after Mugabe's ruling party accused the chief of the military of treason.

Gunfire was heard near Mugabe's private residence, the reports said.

Mugabe last week fired Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, his political ally for more than 40 years, on allegations of disloyalty and deceit.

Zimbabwean army commander Constantino Chiwenga issued a statement on Monday, saying purges against senior ruling party officials should end "forthwith."

Zimbabwe's ruling ZANU-PF party on Tuesday condemned the "treasonous" statement by Zimbabwe Defense Forces Chief Constantino Chiwenga, who threatened military intervention in the party's factional fights.

Chiwenga's statement was outrageous and calculated to disturb national peace and stability, party spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo said in a statement.