Hot off the press: Mugabe gets hero's welcome at summit

Zimbabwean leader Robert Mugabe was given a hero's welcome on Thursday at the opening of a Southern African summit set to be dominated by international concerns over his country's meltdown.

The embattled octogenarian leader received thunderous applause as he walked into the summit of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) -- in stark contrast to polite claps reserved for other heads of state.

In his welcome address before the meeting went into a closed-door session, the summit host, Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa, told delegates to be "mindful" of the difficulties Zimbabweans faced.

The incoming SADC chairperson, who had previously likened Zimbabwe to a "sinking Titanic", also urged Zimbabweans "to retain unity and safeguard your hard-won independence".

"My advice to my brothers and sisters in Zimbabwe is: maintain peace and stability at all costs. Adapted from AFP