Zimbabwe - Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe has denied reports he has cancer, joking that he has died and been resurrected more times than Jesus Christ.

On his 88th birthday, he told state radio: "I am fit as a fiddle".

Making light of numerous media reports of his sickness, the Roman Catholic Mr Mugabe said: "I have died many times - that's where I have beaten Christ. Christ died once and resurrected once."

After 32 years in power, he is seeking re-election in polls due before 2013.

Some reports have suggested that Mr Mugabe's health problems were a reason why he wanted to hold elections this year.

His long-time rival, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, wants a new constitution to be in place before the election.

Last year, whistle-blowing website Wikileaks released a US diplomatic cable from 2008, in which central bank governor Gideon Gono was cited as saying Mr Mugabe had prostate cancer and had less than five years to live.