A defiant Robert Mugabe declared today “Zimbabwe is mine” as his failing government struggles to cope with a cholera epidemic and growing international condemnation.

The Zimbabwean leader, who is widely believed to have lost elections earlier this year, told his Zanu-PF party’s annual conference that he would not be intimidated by calls to step down.

“I will never, never, never, never surrender,” he said. “Zimbabwe is mine, I am a Zimbabwean. Zimbabwe for Zimbabweans. Zimbabwe never for the British, Britain for the British.”

The veteran leader, who made his name leading the liberation movement that ended white rule, said he would remain in power until “his people decide to change him".

Times Archive, 1983: And now the real Mugabe stands up

His elegance of speech, and gentleness of manner, have deceived many in the West

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Mr Mugabe also denounced Western governments who have been stepping up their criticism of his regime since the outbreak of cholera in the country, which according to UN figures has so far killed more than 1,100 people.

“What a pack of lies,” he said, claiming that Zimbabwe was now facing war with former colonial power Britain, supported by the United States and Europe.

“I won’t be intimidated. Even if I am threatened with beheading, I believe this and nothing will ever move me from it: Zimbabwe belongs to us, not the British."

Gordon Brown, speaking earlier today, called on southern African governments to distance themselves from Mr Mugabe.

“Zimbabwe continues to be a tragedy,” Mr Brown said. “I believe the situation, contrary to what President Mugabe says, on all the evidence we have is deteriorating and deteriorating rapidly.”

“My call over the next few days is to the southern African governments to work with us to make sure first of all that we get humanitarian aid in to Zimbabwe to help people, and secondly to make sure that it is absolutely clear to the people of Zimbabwe that we support those who are the democratic and elected politicians of Zimbabwe.”

In the past few weeks European Union leaders, Washington and London have led calls for the Mugabe regime to be toppled with the help of the African nations that surround Zimbabwe.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu, from South Africa, even suggested that military intervention may be required to oust the Zimbabwean government as the West attempts to encourage African leaders to reach consensus.

Mr Mugabe was quoted in the state-run Herald newspaper this morning mocking the idea that a challenge to his authority would emerge from within the continent.

"How could African leaders ever topple Robert Mugabe, organise an army to come? It is not easy," he said. "I do not know of any African country that is brave enough to do that."

Speaking from Botswana today Morgan Tsvangirai, who is thought to have won the majority of votes in both rounds of the presidential election this year, said he would pull out of the shaky power-sharing agreement immediately unless abductions of his party members stopped.

"More than 42 members have been abducted," said Mr Tsvangirai, leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader.

"If these abductions do not cease immediately and if all abductees are not released or charged in a court of law by 1 January 2009, I will be asking the MDC's national council to pass a resolution to suspend all negotiations and contact with Zanu-PF."

After the second round of voting in June, Mr Mugabe claimed he would share power with the leader of the opposition in a coalition government but he has failed to cede any real authority to the MDC.

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