Some Zimbabweans have launched an online petition asking neighbouring states and other foreign governments not to mediate in the crisis over President Robert Mugabe's future, following the military takeover on Wednesday.

The petition says:

The Zimbabweans and international humanitarian community asked you to help Zimbabweans in their struggle against a dictator and you said, 'Zimbabwe is a sovereign state and the people of Zimbabwe must fix their own problems themselves.'"

At least 13,000 endorsements have been recorded so far.

Regional body Sadc held a meeting in neighbouring Botswana on Thursday and called for a regional summit to discuss the crisis.

They urged Zimbabwe to "settle the political challenges through peaceful means."

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