Plot to kill the Croc: Explosion rocks stadium in Zimbabwe in 'assassination' bid to take out president Emmerson Mnangagwa as he addresses rally ahead of next month's election

President Emmerson Mnangagwa was taken to safety at a house in Bulawayo

There were reports of injuries after the explosion apparently close to the VIP tent

Witnesses said the blast occurred as the president had finished speaking

By TIM STICKINGS FOR MAILONLINE and AP

PUBLISHED: 14:51 BST, 23 June 2018 | UPDATED: 18:09 BST, 23 June 2018

An explosion rocked a stadium where Zimbabwe's president was addressing a campaign rally on Saturday in what state media have called an assassination attempt.

Footage showed a blast just as President Emmerson Mnangagwa, nicknamed The Crocodile, had just finished addressing the crowd and was leaving the podium.

Mnangagwa was whisked to safety a state house in the city of Bulawayo, where he had been speaking ahead of next month's election.

He later called for unity despite political differences after 'this senseless act of violence' and said he would not allow a 'cowardly act to get in our way as we move towards elections'.

The country's vice president Constantino Chiwenga and his wife sustained minor injuries from the blast at the White City Stadium, a source close to the president said.

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