Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has reportedly said that the African continent is ready to pull out of the United Nations (UN) if its demand for reform is not met.

According to reports on Sunday, Mugabe said the African Union was planning to form a splinter group with countries such as Russia, China and India if the UN Security Council did not include members of its continent next year.

The veteran leader said this upon his arrival at the Harare international Airport where he addressed hundreds of his Zanu-PF party supporters, who welcomed him on his return from the UN General Assembly in New York.

"It is not all permanent members being tough. It is Britain, France and America… If they remain adamant, they must not cry foul when we agree to form our own organisation with counties like China, India and other Asian countries. This is what we want to do next year in September, when we have made a commitment," Voice of America quoted Mugabe as saying.

Mugabe said African leaders discussed options of withdrawal from the world body on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

A report by the state-owned Sunday Mail newspaper said that Mugabe's "bold speech" was likely to stir debate on the continent, adding that the decision, was however, shelved until next year's UN summit where African leaders were expected to go for broke.

African countries have, since 2005, been requesting for two permanent seats in the UN Security Council as well as five non-permanent seats, as they demanded a fair representation in the global organisation, the report said.

An article by The Conversation said that Africa, despite the rambling annual speeches of its leaders at the UN, was rarely heard when it came to decision making.