UK welcomes Mugabe's resignation

By Ahmet Gurhan Kartal

LONDON (AA) - The U.K. government has said it would do all it can to help Zimbabweans to achieve "the brighter future it so deserves", shortly after the resignation of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe on Tuesday.

"The resignation of Robert Mugabe provides Zimbabwe with an opportunity to forge a new path free of the oppression that characterised his rule," British Prime Minister Theresa May said in a statement.

"In recent days we have seen the desire of the Zimbabwean people for free and fair elections and the opportunity to rebuild the country’s economy under a legitimate government," she added.

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, who has ruled his country for 37 years, resigned Tuesday.

Last week, the Zimbabwean military had taken over the reins of the country and placed Mugabe, his wife and scores of his close ministers under house arrest.

Mugabe was the country's first and only president since Zimbabwe gained indenpendence form the U.K. in 1980.

May said the U.K., "as Zimbabwe's oldest friend", would do all it can to support the African country, by "working with our international and regional partners to help the country achieve the brighter future it so deserves".