Zimbabwe marks 30th birthday

Harare, 18 April-(ANA)-Zimbabwe is celebrating 30 years since independence from the UK with an all-night song and dance performances in the capital, Harare, and a speech by President Robert Mugabe in the city's stadium.

Mr Mugabe, who has ruled since 1980, leads a unity government with rival Morgan Tsvangirai as prime minister.

On the eve of the anniversary, a civil rights group said four of its members had been denied bail after they were accused of staging an illegal protest.

The group, Women of Zimbabwe Arise (Woza) deny wrongdoing. The four were part of a group of women demonstarting against regular power cuts and high electricity tariffs in Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe declared independence on 18 April 1980, following a seven-year conflict against Rhodesia's white minority rule. Mr Mugabe, a former guerrilla leader, was elected president.

The new country was widely seen as a new model for Africa. (ANA)

FA/ANA/18 April 2010--------