Masvingo, Zimbabwe, Dec 07: Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe said today his government would pull out of the 54-nation Commonwealth group following a resolution passed by his ruling Zanu-PF Party.
The Commonwealth had been hijacked by racists interfering in Zimbabwe's internal affairs, he said, but gave no indication of when the Southern African country would withdraw from the club of mostly former British colonies.
Speaking at the end of the ruling party's annual two-day conference, Mugabe said: ''If we say we are doing this, we will do it. We never retreat.''
In Nigeria, a Commonwealth summit haggled on Saturday over whether to readmit Zimbabwe, a row that has split the body along racial lines.
The group suspended Zimbabwe last year, saying Mugabe had rigged his re-election and harassed opponents.
Mugabe, 79, in power since independence from Britain in 1980, also said he had no intention of retiring and attacked those he said were jostling for his office.
Bureau Report
