Zimbabwe soldiers at Harare, Zimbabwe (Photo:AFP/VNA)

This is not a coup and is aimed at the criminals surrounding Mugabe, the army said. There has been growing tension between the army and President Mugabe over the sacking of Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

The US has urged all parties in Zimbabwe to stay calm and resolve their differences in an open, democratic, and constitutional way. Jacob Zuma, South Africa's President and President of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), said he hopes there will be no unconstitutional change of government in Zimbabwe. Zuma also urged all parties to resolve their differences peacefully in line with SADC and African Union rules.