President of Zimbabwe survives 'assassination attempt' in Bulawayo

Emmerson Mnangagwa , the Zimbabwean president, has been evacuated from a campaign rally following an explosion.

Mr Mnangagwa was uninjured in the blast and has been evacuated. 

Spokesman George Charamba said investigations were underway and that there have been “multiple attempts” on Mnangagwa’s life over the years.

"The campaign so far has been conducted in a free and peaceful environment, and we will not allow this cowardly act to get in our way as we move towards elections," Mr Mnangagwa said in a Facebook post.

He later said in a television interview that the blast had happened a few inches away from him as he left the stage.

The United States condemned the attack, which state media has called an assassination attempt.

The US Embassy said 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 tweeted a similar statement.

State media said 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.