[Cincinatus' Wife]

Mugabe loses support of Catholic Church *** Observers say that the report, the most critical in the past three years of state-driven lawlessness, is an indication that Mr Mugabe has lost the support of the most powerful Church in the country.

They say that its silence over his abuses during most of the 23 years of his rule - including the persecution of the outspoken Archbishop Pius Ncube of Bulawayo - has lent him respectability and the ability to deflect censure from Western governments. In January 260 Catholic clergy denounced most of the Catholic bishops for "compromise with an evil regime". ***

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Zimbabwe's Mugabe says prepared to meet opposition leader *** HARARE (AFP) - Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe is prepared to meet opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai if the latter accepts Mugabe won presidential elections last year, the 79-year old leader said. In a wide-ranging interview broadcast on state television, Mugabe also hit out at the United States for wanting him to hand over power to a transitional government, saying Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Walter Kansteiner could "go hang".

The Zimbabwean leader was speaking in a special interview to mark Zimbabwe's 23 years of independence. But the celebrations have been marred for many by worsening economic hardships and widening political divisions. The country's main labour body has set Wednesday as the start of protest mass action over a massive fuel price hike announced last week. Inflation meanwhile has reached 228 percent and 7.8 million people have faced food shortages. Mugabe however claimed that most Zimbabweans are content. ***