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August 2009 vol 4, Cover Stories, National News

'Rogue' army generals finally salute PM

By Staff reporter and agencies   Tue, Aug 11, 2009

HARARE, Zimbabwe — Zimbabwean generals known as hard-line supporters of President Robert Mugabe have saluted former opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai.

'Rogue' army generals finally salute PM

HARARE, Zimbabwe — Zimbabwean generals known as hard-line supporters of President Robert Mugabe have saluted former opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai.

During presidential campaigning last year, generals vowed never to salute Tsvangirai, saying their loyalty was to Mugabe. That makes the mark of respect they showed Tuesday significant.

Tsvangirai was attending his first Armed Forces Day as prime minister.

Tsvangirai beat Mugabe in the presidential first round, then pulled out of a run-off because of state-sponsored violence. Tsvangirai and Mugabe entered a coalition in February.

Most of the country's generals are veterans of Zimbabwe's independence war, which the 57-year-old Tsvangirai is too young to have fought. Mugabe, who is 85, has been in power since independence in 1980.

By Staff reporter and agencies

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