Mugabe says opposition must drop claim to power

By MacDonald Dzirutwe

HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe, defiant despite growing African condemnation of his re-election, said on Friday the opposition must drop its claim to power and accept that he was the rightful head of state.

As Mugabe struck an intransigent stance, both Nigeria and Botswana rejected his re-election because of pre-poll violence which the opposition says killed 103 of its supporters.

Mugabe returned home from Egypt on Friday after an African Union summit earlier in the week which handed him an unprecedented rebuff, saying he should negotiate a national unity government with Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC opposition.

He told thousands of cheering supporters at the airport: "Tsvangirai and his group must disabuse themselves of their claim (to power)."

He added: "We are open to dialogue but reality is reality and it has to be accepted... I am the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe."

Mugabe extended his 28-year rule in a June 27 election which Tsvangirai boycotted, saying a violent, government-backed campaign made a fair vote impossible.

Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation, expressed strong displeasure at both the violent campaign and its result.

"We therefore do not consider the outcome of that election as a basis for moving forward," Foreign Minister Ojo Maduekwe told reporters.  Continued...