Zimbabwe Trumpets Low-key Post for Mugabe

African leaders have elected the Zimbabwean president, Robert Mugabe, as vice-chairman of the African Union's southern African bureau at the organisation's summit in Maputo, Mozambique.

Zimbabwe's state broadcaster trumpeted Mr Mugabe's new post as proof that the embattled leader still commanded support among the continent's leaders. "This dispels notions that Zimbabwe is not in favour of other African states," state television said at the weekend.

Zimbabwe's opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), reacted with outrage, accusing the AU leaders of endorsing Mr Mugabe's state violence.

But Africa watchers say they had expected Mr Mugabe to get some form of endorsement at the AU summit. They point out that the position is fairly low-level and shows Mr Mugabe's standing among his fellow leaders.

"This is just a face-saving measure for Mugabe, because the word is out that he is on his way out," one diplomat attending the summit said. "Just a couple of years ago Mugabe would not have been satisfied unless he was chairman of the entire African Union, now he is delighted to be vice-chairman of a regional committee."

Even as the South African president, Thabo Mbeki, handed over the AU chairmanship to President Joaquim Chissano of Mozambique, he was understood to be briefing fellow leaders about his talks with President George Bush. Mr Mbeki and Mr Bush agreed Mr Mugabe would have to step down early next year for new, tightly monitored elections, according to sources close to the South African president.