KEY POINTS:
An increasingly defiant Robert Mugabe has vowed to "defeat" what he calls a Western agenda to remove him from power and to never allow the opposition to rule Zimbabwe as long as he lives.
Mugabe spoke as his security forces and youth militia continue unprecedented violence on Zimbabwe's civilians. The orgy of violence has seen attacks on opposition activists in every township around the capital, Harare, since the latest crisis erupted almost a fortnight ago. The technique used by the ruling Zanu-PF party's thugs and security forces is to beat the feet and legs of their targets until they are unable to walk. After carrying out brutal attacks on the opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai and other senior officials, the squads have been turning their attention to political organisers.
Doctors, who must operate "underground" when treating members of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, revealed the scale of the beatings. One said they had treated more than 100 activists in two-days last week.
Despite continued international criticism, he said he would survive despite the machinations from within his party, and efforts by the West and opposition to dislodge him.
"You think if I say I am 83 years you can push me ... It's solid 83 years of the struggle, of experience, of resilience and I know the tactics [to survive]," he said.
"Nothing frightens me, not even little fellows like Bush and Blair. I have seen it all, I don't fear any suffering or a struggle of any kind.
"I make a stand and stand on principle here where I was born, here where I grew up, here where I fought and here where I shall die."
He also said opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai would "never rule Zimbabwe for as long as I live".
That means he is determined to keep rigging elections which are run by his cronies.
- INDEPENDENT
