Mugabe says opposition must drop claim to power

HARARE (Reuters) - President Robert Mugabe said on Fridaythat although he accepted the need for negotiations to endZimbabwe's crisis, the opposition must drop their claim topower and accept that he was the country's leader.

Returning home after an African Union summit in Egypt thatcalled on Tuesday for him to open negotiations with theopposition of Morgan Tsvangirai, Mugabe struck a tough line.

"Tsvangirai and his group must disabuse themselves of theirclaim (to power), he said, adding: "We are open to dialogue butreality is reality and it has to be accepted... I am thePresident of the Republic of Zimbabwe."

Mugabe, met by thousands of cheering supporters at theairport, insisted that Zimbabwe's crisis, which has ruined theeconomy and sent millions of refugees into neighbouring states,must be settled internally.

"We are happy that the AU accepted the position that theZimbabwean problem must be resolved by Zimbabweans throughnegotiations."

The AU summit in the resort of Sharm el-Sheikh issued aresolution on Tuesday calling for talks leading to a nationalunity government.

Despite unprecedented African criticism both before andduring the summit, Mugabe seemed unchastened. In an apparentreference to tough criticism from Botswana and Zambia he warnedneighbouring states about picking a fight with Zimbabwe.

"If there are some who may want to fight us, they shouldthink twice. We don't intend to fight any neighbours. We are apeaceful country, but if there is a ...neighbouring countrythat is itching for a fight, ah, then let them try it."

Mugabe was re-elected in a June 27 presidential electionwhich was condemned both inside and outside Africa afterTsvangirai withdrew because of violence which he said hadkilled 86 of his supporters.

Tsvangirai has rejected talks until government-backedviolence against his supporters ends. He says Mugabe's ZANU-PFparty must accept him as the rightful election winner, after afirst round poll in March in which he defeated the veteranpresident.

(Writing by Barry Moody, additional reporting by Paul Simaoin Johannesburg)

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