Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe's 93-year-old president, resigned Tuesday, ending his 37-year rule of the southern African nation after having been put under house arrest by the military.

The world's oldest head of state had been in power since Zimbabwe's independence from Britain in 1980.

His resignation followed anti-Mugabe demonstrations by tens of thousands of people in the capital Harare on Saturday. Eight of the 10 regional chapters of the ruling ZANU-PF party had recently adopted resolutions calling for Mugabe to step down, the state-run broadcaster said Friday.

While lauded as a symbol of the black liberation movement in Africa for his role in resisting white minority rule, Mugabe has also attracted criticism over a crackdown on opposition forces.

He also failed in agricultural reforms since 2000, leading to the country's economic collapse.

The United States, Britain and other European countries have imposed sanctions against Mugabe amid allegations of electoral fraud and human rights abuses.