President Robert Mugabe has fired his deputy, Joice Mujuru, and seven government ministers, in the latest twist in the Zimbabwean power struggle over the choice of his successor.
The dismissals were made public only a few days after Mugabe, 90, publicly rebuked Mujuru, who was seen only a few months ago as the most likely to succeed him when he dies or retires.
The chief secretary to the cabinet, Misheck Sibanda, said Mujuru had been fired because of conflicts of interest and conduct "inconsistent with the expected standard''.
State security minister and long-time Mugabe ally Didymus Mutasa was also sacked, along with Francis Nhema, who heads the indigenisation ministry, and energy and power development minister Dzikamai Mavhaire.
Mujuru, known as "Spill Blood" during the guerrilla war in Rhodesia, dismissed the accusations against her as "ridiculous".
Grace Mugabe, 49, is now favourite to succeed her husband.
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