Zimbabwe President Attacks West on Independence Anniversary

Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe has marked 25 years of his country's independence by telling the West he has no need for their help or style of democracy.

The president told thousands of people gathered in the capital, Harare, Monday Zimbabwe is looking east toward Asia for new allies - turning its back on the West.

He said Zimbabwe's recent elections do not need "Anglo-American" validation.

Mr. Mugabe's ruling (ZANU-PF) party won an overwhelming victory in parliamentary elections last month. But the opposition and Western governments, including Britain and the United States, said the vote was neither free or fair.

Joining Monday's celebrations were leaders from several African nations, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Angola, and Mozambique.

President Mugabe has led Zimbabwe since it gained independence from Britain in 1980.

Some information for this report provided by AFP and Reuters.