12 Dec 2008

Mugabe says cholera outbreak over

5:08 pm on 12 December 2008

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has announced his government has stopped a cholera outbreak that has killed nearly 800 people.

But the United Nations said the death toll has risen and South African officials declared a stretch of the border with Zimbabwe a disaster zone because of an increase in cases.

In a televised address on Thursday, Mr Mugabe accused western leaders of wanting military intervention because of cholera, saying: "Now that there is no cholera there is no case for war."

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says the toll from the disease has risen to 783. Another 16,403 are believed to be infected.