In pictures: Robert Mugabe turns 80

1 of 11 Now 80 years old, Robert Mugabe (l) came to prominence as one of the leaders of a guerrilla war against white minority rule in the former Rhodesia, along with Joshua Nkomo (r).

2 of 11 The war saw atrocities committed by both sides, leaving deep scars in the new Zimbabwe and the two former guerrilla armies soon fell out.

3 of 11 After winning post-independence elections, Prime Minister Mugabe pursued a policy of reconciliation with his former white enemies, letting them keep their economic wealth, while he was political master.

4 of 11 Some Zimbabweans say things started going wrong when he married his young secretary, Grace, in 1996.

5 of 11 The economy slumped, Mugabe faced new opposition and came out fighting.

6 of 11 Now President Mugabe, he reverted to the mentality of the guerrilla fighter, blaming his problems on whites and Britain, the former colonial power.

7 of 11 The former guerrillas rallied behind their leader and became a militia force, attacking opposition activists and spearheading the invasion of white-owned farms.

8 of 11 More than 100 people were killed in two violent elections campaigns, which left Mugabe in power but under sanctions from the west.

9 of 11 Cloaking himself in nationalist rhetoric, he gets some support from other African leaders, notably powerful South Africa.

10 of 11 He considers himself a staunch Catholic and says that his prayers have been answered, with the "defeat" of his enemies and the seizure of most white-owned land.

11 of 11 Mugabe is banned from the EU and the US but at 80, shows no sign of slowing down and gleefully attends international summits, where he rams home his anti-colonial message.