Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe, 90, falls down steps

Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe, 90, fell down steps from a podium after speaking to supporters upon his return from Ethiopia, say witnesses.

Information Minister Jonathan Moyo on Thursday cited examples of leaders who have stumbled, from Jesus to George W. Bush, in an attempt to deny Mugabe fell down the stairs at Harare airport Wednesday.

Mugabe appeared to miss a step and toppled when he left the raised lectern at the airport Wednesday afternoon, according to several witnesses, who insisted on anonymity because of security concerns.

Mugabe, who turns 91 on Feb. 21, was addressing supporters after returning from Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa, where he was appointed chairman of the 54-nation African Union. He missed a step as he walked down from the podium and immediately fell down," said a witness.

His aides quickly helped him up and escorted him to his limousine which sped away, they said.

Some press photographers who captured the fall said they were forced to delete their pictures by security personnel.

The Zimbabwean leader has repeatedly insisted that he is "fit as two fiddles." Mugabe takes annual vacations every January to Asia, including Singapore where he has visited specialists for checkups on his eyes, according to Zimbabwean officials.

Mugabe has been in power since Zimbabwe gained independence in 1980.