Losing his grip on power with the military, who put him under house arrest earlier this week, expected to summon him to hear his fate on sunday. Tens of thousands of people joined rallies across zimbabwe on saturday calling for mr mugabe to go here, for example, in bulawayo. Crowds gathered outside his official residence in harare and his Ruling Zanu Pf Party said it would meet on sunday to dismiss him from the party and reinstate the ousted Vice President , Emmerson Mnangagwa. But despite all of this, the veteran president remains defiant. Our africa editor, fergal keane reports something happened inside the people today. A shared energy that swept them along the streets. They were there on the big streets and small. A common purpose in a place so long divided. Voices that would not have dared speak of Robert Mugabe a few days ago now sounding his political requiem. It is a historic moment. It is special and we have waited for it for 37 years. You have returned from england, you are happy to see this . Indeed i am. This is a new beginning for the people of zimbabwe. What i am seeing here is the death of a dictator. All of the faces of the nation came into harare. Joy was unrestrained and exubera ntly expressed. Who knows what freedom the military coup will deliver. But an army that was once an instrument of oppression is now celebrated. This tell you everything. This is what the people feel about the army. They feel genuine liberation due to be soldiers. Fear has been cast off and expectations awakened. Watching the march, i met a paramedic with a young family. Do you believe that the army will really allow you to be free now . Yes. We do. And if they dont . It is difficult for them to stop us because we have been free, just unable to exercise freedoms. Those who forced this moment include many who were once ardent supporters of Robert Mugabe. Now they call for the departure of the president and his wife. The people of zimbabwe have spoken and the people of zimbabwe have said you and yours should go today and not tomorrow. Robert mugabe is under intense pressure. Yet this afternoon he was refusing to stand down. At one of his official residences, the army was pushing back demonstrators. But they would not leave the area. So people are very angry and they want to get through, past these army lines to this official residence, one of the president s official residences. Our man told me that they want to get in there to tell the people what they think of them. Everyone is now certain that the moment of Robert Mugabes departure is growing close. The bbcs ben brown is also in harare and has the latest. Amazing to see such euphoria on the streets. There were big demonstrations in two major cities today. These people who demonstrated today, it was unthinkable in years gone by that they would even question Robert Mugabes leadership. To come out onto the street and demand he resigns and resigns now. They have lost all the fear that they have had. This follows the fact that the army have completely lost faith with Robert Mugabe and the party, zanu pf, have lost faith with him as well. What we saw today was people power. Tens of thousands of people power. Tens of thousands of people on the street showing that they have lost faith with Robert Mugabe and demanding that he steps down mount. The implications are that he will not. People close to him, his family and nephew had said today that he will not resign because he does not believe it is the right thing to do. Would rather die than resign his nephew said the army say that they are having more talks with him tomorrow to persuade him, try to persuade him to go quietly and with dignity. We also have a meeting of the Zanu Pf Party who say they are going to dismiss them and then we could be seeing Emmerson Mnangagwa brought back in. Vice president ejected only a few days ago. This is the point and this is what Robert Mugabe is facing. He knows that time is running out for him. He has no friends left, no allies left, there is barely anybody in this country you could find who still want him to be president of the country. So if he refuses to resign, the leadership of zanu pf, the Central Committee meeting on sunday to discuss expelling him as leader of the party, to opposing him and he will no longer be leader of zanu pf. Then on tuesday we expect parliament will then meet to begin impeaching him. In otherwords, this would be done constitutionally. There has been a military takeover but the army do not want it to look like they are removing him by force like they are removing him by force like you were a true guitar. They wa nted like you were a true guitar. They wanted done constitutionally. So when the party deposes him as leader and the parliament deposes him as president , then that is what the army would like to see. They would not be blamed by the International Community or by the African Union as being a military that has forcefully deposed president. Being a military that has forcefully deposed president lj being a military that has forcefully deposed president. I suppose the question is that whoever replaces him, the question being asked on the street was do people really believe that that would bring them proper freedom . That is absolutely the key question. Emmerson mnangagwa, who has been seen as a strong man of mugabes leadership and his government in years gone by, many people accuse him of being in charge of atrocities and so on, and he has not been known as a champion of democracy and human rights, lets put it that way. Some people here are saying that they may lose a mugabe and have someone not much better in his plays. On the other hand, there are signs that the military would like to install him. Heres their favoured candidate, military would like to install him. Heres theirfavoured candidate, as the leader of a new Transitional Authority bell with members of the opposition involved as well. They may think that may be more audible to the country and the outside world. More palatable. The lebanese Prime Minister, saad hariri, has confirmed that he will be going back home in the next few days. Hes been in paris where he met president macron. France has said it is ready to organise a meeting of the International Support group for lebanon. Mr hariri announced he was standing down while in saudi arabia a fortnight ago. Heres our paris correspondent, lucy williamson. Having the president greet you at the palace sends a message. In this case, that saad hariri is still the Prime Minister of lebanon, not a political exile fleeing Saudi Arabian control. It was a show of support both political and personal. After the meeting, sources said france would continue direct contacts with the middle east key players. Saad hariri said he was finally going home. Translation i will return to beirut in the coming days and will take part in our Independence Day celebrations. I will make my position known on all subjects after talking to our president. President macron wants france to have greater global influence. Old colonial ties to lebanon no doubt played a role in his invitation to saad hariri but he is also stepping into a delicate situation between iran and saudi arabia, two regional powers with conflicting ties to lebanon. Saad hariri had been in saudi arabia for two weeks since announcing his surprise resignation, accusing iran and its ally hezbollah of threatening stability in lebanon and saying he feared for his life. The invitation from mr macron to saad hariri and his family offered a way out of the impasse but not a solution. This was a important meeting but no solution because the solution is among the lebanese, not in france. France can play a role in the middle east between iran and saudi arabia and also, perhaps, between the lebanese but i think the main issue is going to happen in lebanon in the next few weeks. Saad hariri left the palace with his family today having tasted french diplomatic power. He is about to test his own. Lets take a look at some of the other stories making the news. Fourteen civilians are reported to have been killed in a rebel held neighbourhood besieged by Syrian Government forces on the outskirts of damascus. The british based syrian observatory for human rights said the victims died in airstrikes and shelling in four towns in the Eastern Ghouta district. Syrian state media blamed rebel shelling in damascus. The Russian Ambassador has dismissed criticism of his countrys decision to veto a Un Security Council resolution, which would have extended an International Inquiry into chemical weapons attacks in syria. Its the 10th time moscow has used its veto powers at the United Nations in support of its ally since the conflict began. The Argentine Navy says it has so far failed to find any trace of a submarine with forty four crew on board after searching almost 80 of the sea area where it disappeared. The sanjuan has not been in touch since early wednesday. Heavy seas and high winds have been hampering the operation. Gerry adams, the leader of the irish republican party, sinn fein, says he plans to stand down next year, after thirty four years at the forefront of republican politics. Through his leadership of sinn fein at the height of the conflict in Northern Ireland, gerry adams became seen as the political voice of the ira. He made the announcement at his partys conference in dublin. From there, Chris Buckler reports. Tonight, sinn fein paid tribute to one of the men who built the party. Martin mcguinness was a key figure in its divisive leadership. Martin was a proud member of the ira. But that was a generation ago. And sinn feins other figure, who has been Party President for 3. 5 decades, announced this evening he would stand down next year. I have complete confidence in the leaders we elected this weekend and the next generation of leaders and i want to thank everyone who has welcomed me into their homes and communities and made me part of countless campaigns. Gerry adams was the leader of sinn fein. But the party was seen primarily as the political face of the ira. And he was a hit figure for unionists who saw him as an apologist for violence. I have not gone away, you know. But the ira has now gone away. And with a rise in electoral support in the republic, sinn feins new ambition is to be part of parliament in dublin. If gerry adams is still leader, i dont think so. I think that makes a difference to a lot of people. He is tainted and people believe he was the leader of the ira. He has always denied that. But sinn feins ira past still hangs over the party, both north and south of the irish border. Sinn feins new leader, michele oneil, has been able to agree a deal to return to power sharing in stormont, in Northern Ireland. And there is a challenge for the next generation of leaders here in dublin. In order to go into Coalition Government they need to build relationships with parties that have been keen to distance themselves from sinn fein in the past. Stay with us on bbc world news, still to come the venezuelan opposition leader, antonio ledezma, is in spain a day after escaping from house arrest in caracas. Benazir bhutto has claimed victory in pakistans general election. She has asked pakistans president to name her as Prime Minister. Jackson has been released on bail of 3 million after turning himself in to police in santa barbara. It was the biggest demonstration so far of the fast growing european anti nuclear movement. The South African government has announced that its opening the countrys remaining whites only beaches to people of all races. This will lead to a black majority government in this country and the destruction of the white civilisation. Part of the centuries old windsor castle, one of the queens residences, has been consumed by fire for much of the day. 150 firemen have been battling the blaze, which has caused millions of pounds worth of damage. This is bbc news. The latest headlines Zimbabwes PresidentRobert Mugabe will meet military commanders on sunday as protesters in harare march on his residence demanding he step down. Lebanons Prime Minister saad hariri has met president macron in paris and says he will go back to lebanon in the coming days. More on our top story zimbabwean president mugabe being forced from power. Alex magaisa, from kent law school, was the chief of staff for former Prime Minister morgan tsvangirai, who leads the opposition to mr mugabe. He gave us his thoughts on the recent developments in his home country. This is the first time in a very long time that there has been a huge convergence of all the different forces in zimbabwe and i think it is an opportunity for all the parties to Work Together and see if they can chart the way forward. It is important to them of course to understand what the future holds, whether we have a stake in that, in particular making sure that the road to democracy is prepared because thatis to democracy is prepared because that is something that has been lacking in zimbabwe. We know that the army, the military that intervened, they seemed to favour the former Vice President but you know, zimbabweans must be given an opportunity to make a choice as to who should lead them. Mr mugabe is, he isa who should lead them. Mr mugabe is, he is a stubborn man and he will fight to the end. It isnt surprising that even though the opportunities, the offers are on the table, that he is unwilling to take what would be a dignified exit and it might end up very ugly. Mr mugabe has seen lots of people come into his rallies over the past few months and this made him believe that he is well loved but i think all that was a facade, people were doing it because that is what they believed they were expected to do and we have seenin they were expected to do and we have seen in the last few days his party now is even richard in him and i think it is going to see very soon that he will be pretty politically isolated. Earlier, i spoke to doug coltart, a human rights lawyer and activist in zimbabwe. He said people are cautiously optimistic a new era of democracy is being ushered in. It has been an incredible day, i think, to many of us. We werent sure we would ever see a day like this where we would march on state house, it was incredible, the scenes we re house, it was incredible, the scenes were the atmosphere was euphoric, tullius, one i was alive during the bubbly on independence but many people preferred to told me that the atmosphere felt, they hadnt felt that since Independence Day. Really, it has been incredible day. And yet we have Robert Mugabe remaining defiant. He has not gone yet. Do you fear that maybe the jubilation and celebration is a little bit premature . Jubilation and celebration is a little bit premature . |j jubilation and celebration is a little bit premature . I wouldnt say it is premature. I think that there is good reason for why people feel this energy, this excitement, and irreversible transition has begun. But certainly, the result of recent precaution. And, you know, zimbabweans, were not through the woods by any means so mugabe hasnt stepped down but even if he does, there are still huge question marks about the agenda of the military and the potential for imposition of a ; 277777 § 22 to in fig have been been involved in of the has been involvedinmafiyfifihfi has been inlevedtfitflefiyfifthe 7 zanu pf inrii mnmzm mmm committed. And so i think what we are saying is it is essential that this is an inclusive transition process. That was a human rights lawyer in harare talking to me early. One of the fiercest critics of venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro has been speaking out against the countrys government. Antonio ledezma has arrived in spain a day after escaping from house arrest in caracas. Pablo ochoa reports. It is an image of defiance but im in bed is available felt emboldened by. Antonio ledezma, a former mayor of caracas, and a staunch critic of president Nicolas Maduro now safe in spanish soil after crossing the border into neighbouring colombia. Until last week, he was under house arrest, accused in 2015 of plotting arrest, accused in 2015 of plotting a coup to overthrow the government. He spent more than 1000 days in detention and sensible now speaks of venezuelas radical prisoners. Translation i will concentrate on travelling the world in exile. I will contribute and to be an extension of the hope that venezuelan people go for people hope to get to the dictatorship. Venezuela is a victim of a raging thatis venezuela is a victim of a raging that is colluding with regime that is colluding with regime thatis that is colluding with regime that is colluding with regime that is colluding with regime that is colluding with drug trafficking. On saturday mr ledezma was meeting the spanish Prime Minister who has welcomed venezuelas critical of the government with open arms. But he says he has not reached out to madrid to seek asylum by political support. Translation madrid to seek asylum by political support. Translationzlj madrid to seek asylum by political support. Translation i have asked the Prime Minister but to put pressure against the tyranny in venezuela but we do isnt a president , he is a tyrant who uses force to control these patricians and six to subdue people like me. Seeks to. In caracas, the president was sarcastic, commenting on his political escape. Commentator the vampire is flying high, he says he will go to spain, in the wind. Drinking wine. You can keep the vampire over there. But mr ledezmas saga could re energise opposition that has been criticised for not coming up with a plan to venezuela. Four months of process ended earlier this year with more than 130 people dead and no change of government. Mr ledezma is now free to become the most high profile opposition leader, speaking against president medora outside venezuela. The question remains, how much will this help his supporters inside the country to bring about political change . A new portrait of the queen and Prince Philip has been released to mark their 70th wedding anniversary. When they married, the then princess elizabeth was 21 years old while her groom, lieutenant philip mountbatten, was 26. The queen and the duke of edinburgh will mark mondays platinum anniversary with a private dinner with family and friends at windsor castle. Malcolm young, co founder and guitarist of the australian rock band ac dc has died aged 64. He founded the group in the 1970s with his brother angus, retiring more than a0 years later to receive treatment for dementia. Ac dc are best known for the albums highway to hell and back in black, and were inducted into the rock and roll hall of fame in 2003. Tributes have been flowing on twitter for malcolm young. Black sabbath front man Ozzy Osbourne says duff mckagan, of guns n roses fame, tweets and Eddie Van Halen says dont forget, you can get in touch with me and some of the team there is plenty more on our website. Think if watching. Thank you for watching. Hello there. Its been a tale of two halves today weve had the rather chilly dank and murky weather in the south, the brighter weather in the north, but it is been cold, particularly in the wind, so we had some lovely sunsets, however under the starry skies, clearly the frost is already forming. Its going to be a cold night. Temperatures in the countryside down to 3, 11 degrees quite easily. However, in the south, it will take its time to the temperature to drop. We still have that cold air undercutting this patchy rain which could leave a few icy patches, particularly in the north where we keep the showers, but in the south where weve had that moisture, there could be a little bit of patchy fog around through the early hours of sunday morning. For many, it is a cold, cold start to our sunday morning, scraping the ice off the cars, and as i say, there could be some fog for Early Morning travellers as well. For scotland it looks a bit more promising, in terms of the wind wont be quite as strong, it will still be chilly, there will still be some wintriness over the hills and later, the cloud will come in, and that will start to come in to Northern Ireland, western fringes of the country as well, so cold and grey here. Cold and bright through the east, and it does look drier across southern parts of england and wales, compared with what weve seen today. But the cloud is never too far away there could be Early Morning fog and then the rain, all be it rather patchy, may well return to irish sea coasts of South West England and wales and Northern Ireland into the afternoon, possibly western scotland. So here, even though there wont be great amounts of rain, it willjust be grey and cold. Further east, although the wind isnt as strong as it has been today, it will nevertheless be pretty chilly fives and six at best i think for the most. And thats because we have had such a chilly start. So even the sunshine not helping that much, despite that ridge of high pressure. And that then disappears as we get low pressure starting to roll in through the atlantic monday morning. Look, some snow on its northern edge, particularly over the hills but possibly at lower levels, so that could cause destruction potentially first thing monday. Then it looks as if it will be swept away. Mostly mild air except over the hills. As you can see, that westerly Atlantic Wind takes over for most. Because we have this milder wind coming in off the atlantic, we will see temperatures rising, but it will take its time to warm up, particularly for scotland you can see only fives to seven here. That is because the cold air isnt too far away. The mild air coming in off the atlantic does tend to win this is bbc news, the headlines. Zimbabwes president Robert Mugabe is expected to meet the military on sunday. They are attempting to persuade him to step down. Huge crowds have demonstrated in the capital harare, calling for mr mugabe to resign. The lebanese politician saad hariri, who shocked his country when he resigned as Prime Minister, says he will return to beirut within days. Mr hariri announced he was standing down while in saudi arabia a fortnight ago. The leader of the irish republican party, sinn fein, gerry adams, says he plans to stand down next year, after thirty four years at the forefront of the Republican Movement in Northern Ireland. The Argentine Navy says it has so far failed to find any trace of the sanjuan, a submarine with forty four crew on board after searching almost 80 of the sea area where it disappeared. Now on bbc news, we take you deep into the forests of sumatra