津巴布韦等待新总统

Zimbabwe could have a new president as early as Wednesday following the resignation of longtime leader Robert Mugabe.

Top officials in the ruling ZANU-PF party said former Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa will be sworn in either Wednesday or Thursday. Mnangagwa abruptly fled the country November 6 after Mugabe fired him, but he was expected to return Wednesday.

Car horns blared as people danced, cheered and waved in the capital, Harare, to celebrate the news of Mugabe's departure, which he announced Tuesday in a letter read out by the speaker of parliament.

Speaker Jacob Mudenda read out the resignation letter soon after lawmakers began proceedings to impeach Mugabe.

The letter said in part, "I, Robert Gabriel Mugabe, in terms of Section 96 of the constitution of Zimbabwe, hereby formally tender my resignation...with immediate effect."

There has been no confirmation of the letter from the president or his office -- but no denial, either.

The 93-year-old Mugabe had ruled Zimbabwe since the country won independence from Britain in 1980.