Zimbabwe's Mugabe warns against violent protests

The President of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe, has again warned that his government will not tolerate violent protests.

Speaking at celebrations to mark eighteen years of independence from British colonial rule, Mr Mugabe said he accepted the right to demonstrate peacefully, and acknowledged recent economic hardship.

But he said the authorities would not allow what he called a situation of anarchy to develop.

His warning came three months after soldiers and police broke up violent demonstrations in Harare against food price rises.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service