JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma spoke to Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe on Wednesday, and Mugabe told Zuma that he was confined to his home but that he was fine, the South African presidency said in a statement. 
  
 President Robert Mugabe gestures as he addresses a rally in Harare, Zimbabwe, November 8, 2017. REUTERS/Philimon Bulawayo 
  
 The presidency added that Zuma, in his capacity as chair of the Southern African Development Community, was sending special envoys to Zimbabwe to meet with Mugabe and the Zimbabwean Defence Force, which has seized power in Harare. ||||| A military tank is seen with armed soldiers on the road leading to President Robert Mugabes office in Harare, Zimbabwe Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2017. Overnight, at least three explosions were heard in the... (Associated Press) 
  
 HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — The Latest on the military takeover in Zimbabwe (all times local): 
  
 1:10 p.m. 
  
 The head of Zimbabwe's influential war veterans association says they stand with the army and that President Robert Mugabe should be recalled as president and ruling party leader. 
  
 Victor Matemadanda told reporters in the capital, Harare, that the country has been sliding into a "state of chaos." 
  
 He says the ruling party should establish a commission of inquiry into Mugabe and why he decided to let his wife insult veterans and the armed forces. 
  
 ___ 
  
 12:55 p.m. 
  
 South Africa's president says he has spoken with Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe and that the 93-year-old leader is confined to his home but is "fine." 
  
 A statement by President Jacob Zuma's office continues to refer to Mugabe as Zimbabwe's president. 
  
 Zuma is sending South Africa's ministers of defense and state security to Zimbabwe to meet with Mugabe and the military there. 
  
 Zuma is calling for calm. 
  
 ___ 
  
 12:10 p.m. 
  
 South African President Jacob Zuma, as leader of the 15-nation Southern African Development Community, has "noted with great concern" the unfolding political situation in neighboring Zimbabwe. 
  
 Zuma, in a statement issued from his office Wednesday, called for "restraint and calm" and "expressed hope that developments in Zimbabwe would not lead to unconstitutional changes of government as that would be contrary to both SADC and African Union positions." 
  
 Zuma urged all members of the Zimbabwe government and the military to "resolve the political impasse amicably." The South African president said southern Africa's regional body will "closely monitor the situation and remains ready to assist where necessary." 
  
 ___ 
  
 9:25 a.m. 
  
 In the wake of the military takeover in Zimbabwe, the national police force has recalled all officers on leave. A top police official who insisted on anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the press told The Associated Press that all police on leave have been ordered to return to their posts immediately. 
  
 ___ 
  
 8:30 a.m. 
  
 Zimbabwe's army said Wednesday it has President Robert Mugabe and his wife in custody and is securing government offices and patrolling the capital's streets following a night of unrest that included a military takeover of the state broadcaster. 
  
 The night's action triggered speculation of a coup, but the military's supporters praised it as a "bloodless correction." 
  
 Overnight three explosions were heard in the capital, Harare, and military vehicles were seen in the streets. 
  
 The military actions appear to put the army in control of the country. 
  
 ___ 
  
 AP journalist Farai Mutsaka in Harare, contributed to this report. ||||| Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Maj Gen Sibusiso Moyo read out a statement on national TV early on Wednesday 
  
 The military has taken control in Zimbabwe but said President Robert Mugabe, in power since 1980, was safe. 
  
 After seizing state TV, an army spokesman announced it was targeting people close to Mr Mugabe. 
  
 South Africa's President Jacob Zuma later said he had spoken to Mr Mugabe who had indicated that he "was confined to his home but said that he was fine". 
  
 The move may be a bid to replace Mr Mugabe with his sacked deputy, Emmerson Mnangagwa, BBC correspondents say. 
  
 The dismissal of Mr Mnangagwa last week had left Mr Mugabe's wife Grace as the president's likely successor. 
  
 Heavy gun and artillery fire could be heard in northern parts of the capital Harare early on Wednesday. 
  
 A statement read out by a general on air denied it was a coup. There was no immediate word from the president himself. 
  
 Mr Mugabe, 93, has dominated the impoverished country's political scene since independence from the UK. 
  
 Mr Zuma earlier said he hoped events in Zimbabwe would not lead to "unconstitutional changes of government". 
  
 Messages appeared on a Twitter account purportedly run by the ruling Zanu-PF party saying Mr Mugabe had been detained. But there has been no confirmation by the army and it is not clear who runs the account. 
  
 The UK Foreign Office advised Britons "currently in Harare to remain safely at home or in their accommodation until the situation becomes clearer", while the US embassy in Harare advised US citizens in Zimbabwe to "shelter in place" until further notice. 
  
 China, Zimbabwe's biggest trading partner, says it is closely watching the situation and hopes that the relevant parties can properly handle their internal affairs. 
  
 How did the military justify its move? 
  
 Troops in armoured vehicles have been out in the streets of the capital Harare since Tuesday. 
  
 After soldiers overran the headquarters of the ZBC broadcaster, Maj Gen Sibusiso Moyo went on air to say the military wished to "assure the nation that his Excellency the president... and his family are safe and sound and their security is guaranteed". 
  
 Image copyright Reuters Image caption Soldiers patrolled Harare on Wednesday 
  
 "We are only targeting criminals around him who are committing crimes... that are causing social and economic suffering in the country," he said. 
  
 "As soon as we have accomplished our mission, we expect that the situation will return to normalcy." 
  
 Other key points of the statement include: 
  
 Citizens should remain calm and limit unnecessary movement 
  
 The military assures the Zimbabwean judiciary that its independence is guaranteed 
  
 Security services should "co-operate for the good of our country" and any provocation would "be met with an appropriate response" 
  
 All leave for the defence forces is cancelled and personnel should return to barracks immediately 
  
 It is not clear who is leading the military action. 
  
 Army chief Gen Constantino Chiwenga, who visited China last week, said on Monday the army was prepared to act to end purges within Zanu-PF. 
  
 The old guard strikes back 
  
 By Joseph Winter, BBC News website Africa editor 
  
 This is all about the leadership succession, as Mr Mugabe's powers finally falter. 
  
 The people who fought in the 1970s guerrilla war against white minority rule still dominate Zimbabwe's government and especially its security forces, and they are worried about losing that power and the wealth it generates. 
  
 In his statement on Monday, Gen Chiwenga warned against the "purging, which is clearly targeting members of the party with a liberation background". 
  
 This was obviously a reference to the sacking last week of Mr Mugabe's once loyal deputy, Mr Mnangagwa, a former defence minister, spy chief and veteran of the war of independence. 
  
 He and Grace Mugabe, who is four decades younger than her husband, had been seen as the main candidates to succeed Mr Mugabe. Mrs Mugabe's supporters are known as Generation 40 or G40 - a name which signals a changing of the guard in Zimbabwe, at least partially, 37 years after independence. 
  
 So this military action is the old guard reasserting its authority. Mr Mugabe was the political leader of the guerrilla war so the army always professed loyalty to him until he explicitly came out in favour of his wife. 
  
 Read more 
  
 What do we know of the shooting? 
  
 The firing was coming from northern suburbs where Mr Mugabe and a number of government officials live, the BBC's Shingai Nyoka reports from Harare. 
  
 A witness told AFP news agency it could be heard near Mr Mugabe's residence in the suburb of Borrowdale early on Wednesday, 
  
 Some staff at ZBC were manhandled when the soldiers moved in, sources told Reuters. 
  
 Has anyone been detained? 
  
 A government source told Reuters news agency that Finance Minister Ignatius Chombo had been detained. 
  
 He is a leading member of a faction of Zanu-PF led by Grace Mugabe. 
  
 Is this a coup? 
  
 Alex Magaisa, former adviser to Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, told the BBC: "They have decided not to call it a coup because they know that a coup does not sell, it will be condemned. 
  
 Image copyright AFP Image caption General Chiwenga had warned of a military takeover 
  
 "But as far as authority is concerned it seems very clear that President Mugabe is now just a president in name and authority is now residing in the military." 
  
 Zanu-PF had accused Gen Chiwenga of "treasonable conduct" after he issued his warning that the army might intervene. 
  
 What was the political situation before the army acted? 
  
 Last month, Mrs Mugabe accused allies of Mr Mnangagwa of planning a coup. 
  
 Image copyright AFP Image caption Grace Mugabe is seen as a potential successor to her elderly husband 
  
 Image copyright EPA Image caption Emmerson Mnangagwa is seen here at a recent funeral 
  
 The rivalry between Mrs Mugabe and Mr Mnangagwa split Zanu-PF. 
  
 Gen Chiwenga is a close ally of Mr Mnangagwa and both are veterans of the 1970s war which ended white minority rule. 
  
 The leader of the war veterans, Chris Mutsvangwa, welcomed the military move, telling Reuters: "This is a correction of a state that was careening off the cliff. 
  
 "It's the end of a very painful and sad chapter in the history of a young nation, in which a dictator, as he became old, surrendered his court to a gang of thieves around his wife." |||||
What is a one-paragraph summary of the above article?
– Time may have finally run out for Robert Mugabe after 37 years ruling Zimbabwe: The military has seized control and says he is "safe and sound" in their custody. South Africa's President Jacob Zuma says he spoke to the 93-year-old leader Wednesday and he said he was doing fine, though he is confined to his home, Reuters reports. But the situation could change quickly: The BBC reports that heavy gunfire was heard Wednesday near Mugabe's home in the northern suburbs of the capital, Harare. Troops in armored vehicles are on the streets and the US Embassy has told citizens to "shelter in place" until the crisis is over. Zuma has called for calm and warned against "unconstitutional changes in government." The military, which launched the takeover by taking control of a state broadcaster, denies that a coup is underway and says it is only targeting "criminals" around Mugabe. Analysts say the action could be an attempt to replace Mugabe with recently fired deputy Emmerson Mnangagwa. Observers had expected the vice president to be replaced with Grace Mugabe, the leader's 52-year-old wife, who is deeply unpopular with the military. She is believed to be out of the country, possibly in Namibia, the Guardian reports. The AP reports that Victor Matemadanda, chief of Zimbabwe's influential association of liberation war veterans, says they support the military and believe Mugabe should be replaced.