Mugabe threatens to dissolve Parliament

HARARE, Zimbabwe, Jan. 24 (UPI) -- Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe said he will use his powers to dissolve Parliament if parties don't reach a consensus on the country's new Constitution.

Mugabe also said Sunday despite rumors to the contrary, he is healthy and looking forward to celebrating his 87th birthday on Feb. 21, the Zimbabwe Guardian reported.

"The inclusive government was not meant to be a permanent establishment and if there is no consensus or political agreement to come up with a new Constitution, I have the constitutional right to dissolve parliament and call for elections," Mugabe said Sunday.

Mugabe made the comments after arriving at Zimbabwe's Harare International Airport from Singapore, where he was vacationing.

Mugabe told The Zimbabwean reports he recently underwent surgery in Malaysia are "lies."

"Those are naked lies, rhetoric talk that is expected from the Western sponsored media," Mugabe said. "I was not in Malaysia so those are the lies put across from year to year. We were just resting in Singapore and seeing my daughter. We have a daughter in Hong Kong."