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HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — The Latest on explosion at Zimbabwe president's campaign rally (all times local):
6:15 p.m.
Zimbabwe's president says the explosive device in an attack on his campaign rally went off a "few inches away from me, but it is not my time."
President Emmerson Mnangagwa told the state broadcaster that there have been "so many" attempts on his life in the past and that he is used to them.
He adds that "I can assure you these are my normal enemies."
Police are investigating the explosion that occurred seconds after Mnangagwa addressed a stadium crowd in Bulawayo city and stepped into a VIP tent just off the stage.
Zimbabwe faces its first election without longtime leader Robert Mugabe on July 30.
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5:55 p.m.
Zimbabwe's president says he has visited in the hospital "several" people hurt in an attack on his campaign rally that state media call an assassination attempt.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa calls on the country for unity despite political differences after "this senseless act of violence."
Police are investigating the explosion that occurred seconds after Mnangagwa addressed a stadium crowd in Bulawayo city and stepped into a VIP tent just off the stage.
Zimbabwe faces its first election without longtime leader Robert Mugabe on July 30.
Mnangagwa says that "we will not allow this cowardly act to get in our way as we move towards elections."
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5:35 p.m.
The United States is condemning the attack on a campaign rally for Zimbabwe's president, which state media has called an assassination attempt.
The U.S. Embassy says on Twitter that "political violence in any form is unacceptable" and contrary to the progress needed to move the country forward and "take its place on the global stage."
The British Embassy has tweeted a similar statement.
State media says President Emmerson Mnangagwa was not hurt but one of the country's vice presidents had a leg injury.
Zimbabwe faces its first election without longtime leader Robert Mugabe on July 30.
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4:25 p.m.
Zimbabwe's state-run media is calling the blast at President Emmerson Mnangagwa's campaign rally an assassination attempt.
The Zimbabwe Herald newspaper calls it an attempt on Mnangagwa's life. It cites a presidential spokesman as saying Mnangagwa was not hurt and was safely evacuated.
Witnesses say several people appeared to be injured in the blast that occurred in the VIP tent seconds after the president stepped into it following his speech at a stadium in Bulawayo city.
Zimbabwe's first election since the resignation of former leader Robert Mugabe is July 30.
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3:30 p.m.
Zimbabwe state media say an explosion has rocked a stadium where President Emmerson Mnangagwa was addressing a campaign rally. The Zimbabwe Herald reports that the president is not hurt and has been evacuated from the scene.
A presidential spokesman tells the newspaper that Mnangagwa is now at a state house in the city of Bulawayo, where he had been speaking ahead of next month's election.
Spokesman George Charamba says investigations are underway and points out that there have been "multiple attempts" on Mnangagwa's life over the years.
Mnangagwa took power in November after longtime leader Robert Mugabe stepped down under military pressure.
The July 30 vote is the first without Mugabe since independence in 1980.
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