Mugabe jeered as parliament opens

Robert Mugabe was jeered and booed by opposition MPs as he opened Zimbabwe's parliament yesterday, an unprecendented humiliation for the president during his 30-minute speech. As the 84-year-old leader rode to the opening of parliament in a vintage Rolls-Royce accompanied by troops and a 21-gun salute, he was greeted with waving fists.

Raising his voice to be heard, Mugabe accused Britain and the United States of using food as a "weapon" through sanctions.

The taunts came a day after the two opposition factions united and stunned Mugabe by successfully voting in their speaker. But depite seizing control of the 210-seat House of Assembly from the ruling party for the first time in 28 years, MDC remains wary. A memorandum signed by all the party's MPs has described the opening of the parliament as "a clear breach" of the agreement that led to power-sharing talks.

Although the opposition now has the simple majority which gives it the power to block funds for government ministries and projects, if there was a deadlock it is likely Mugabe could dissolve the assembly and rule by decree.