Mugabe jeered by Zimbabwean MPs as he defies the opposition by opening parliament

The Zimbabwe president carried out the role despite an agreement with opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai that the assembly would not sit unless both men agreed or until a power-sharing deal was struck.

A petition signed by all Movement for Democratic Change lawmakers and presented yesterday to Vice President Joyce Mujuru described the opening of the parliament as 'a clear breach' of the agreement that led to power-sharing talks.

Official: President Robert Mugabe inspects the guard of honour at the opening of the Parliament, Harare

'The only person who can officially open parliament will be determined by the outcome of the dialogue,' the petition said, calling Mugabe 'the illegitimate usurper of the people's will.'

With a show that demonstrated his love-hate relationship with
former coloniser Britain, Mugabe arrived in an open-topped vintage Rolls-Royce escorted by police on horseback sporting plumed pith helmets.

Tsvangirai beat Mugabe and two other candidates in presidential elections in March, but did not gain the simple majority needed to avoid a run-off.

Sound and fury: Zimbabwe's supporters of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change and Zanu-PF sing and dance as they watch their party legislators enter parliament

Out and about: Mugabe gets out of his Rolls Royce as he arrives for the opening of parliament

While power-sharing talks have taken place, talks have deadlocked over whether Tsvangirai or Mugabe would have the leading role in a unity government.

As Mugabe made his speech, in which he condemned Britain and the U.S., he was drowned out by jeers of his opponents.

The MDC won 100 seats in the 210-seat legislature in March elections.
However, only 99 members took the oath of office on Monday, after one was arrested as he tried to enter parliament.

But the party's candidate Lovemore Moyo was voted Speaker.

Honoured: Mugabe's picture hangs at the entrance of the parliament as a guard of honour stand