Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe gave the strongest indication yet on Friday that he would not run for reelection after 2008 but left open the question of whether he would serve out his current six-year term.
"In five years [I will be] here still boxing, writing quite a lot, reading quite a lot, and still in politics. I won't leave politics, but I will have retired obviously," Mugabe said in an interview with state television on the eve of his 80th birthday.
Mugabe, who has been in power since independence from Britain in 1980, was not specific on when he would quit, meaning he could still serve out the remaining four years of his term following his controversial re-election in 2002.
The veteran leader has left his retirement plans open over the past year despite speculation that he wants a graceful exit in the face of severe economic and political turmoil that critics blame on what they call his misrule.
Mugabe denies charges by the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change and several Western countries that he rigged the 2002 polls, and has previously dismissed speculation he will leave office early.
Mugabe has remained defiant in the face of international criticism of his rule and pulled Zimbabwe out of the Commonwealth group of mostly former British colonies when it extended Zimbabwe's 18-month suspension over the elections.
Mugabe, who dismisses the MDC as a puppet of his Western foes, walked out of talks with the MDC after it went to court to challenge his 2002 victory, and has previously said it must recognize him as president before talks can resume.
Mugabe denies mismanaging Zimbabwe's economy, which has record unemployment and inflation, as well as shortages of foreign currency, fuel and food.
He says the economy has been sabotaged by opponents of his forcible redistribution of white-owned farms among landless blacks.
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