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US Demands Zimbabwe Release Americans

Journalists rounded up in apparent crackdown

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Apr 4, 2008 3:24 AM CDT

(Newser) – The US State Department is demanding the immediate release of Americans detained in Zimbabwe, CNN reports. Riot police entered a hotel yesterday and removed foreign reporters, including a New York Times correspondent now being held in a Harare jail. Another US citizen working for a democratic rights organization was also detained at the Harare airport, AP reports. The citizens were being held for no valid reason, said a US official.

The round up of journalists and raids on opposition offices have raised fears that President Robert Mugabe is cracking down after an apparent election loss for his ruling party. A runoff election may be necessary but diplomats now fear Mugabe might declare a state of emergency first to crush opposition. “He’s lost the election, so he’s carrying out a coup,” said an official of the opposition party.

Zimbabwe's  President Robert Mugabe, centre, meets  with head of the African Union Observer Mission members  at Zimbabwe House in Harare, Thursday, April, 3, 2008. .
Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe, centre, meets with head of the African Union Observer Mission members at Zimbabwe House in Harare, Thursday, April, 3, 2008. .   (AP Photo)
Mmen talk by the posters of the leader of President Robert Mugabe, in Harare, capital of Zimbabwe, Thursday, April 3, 2008.
Mmen talk by the posters of the leader of President Robert Mugabe, in Harare, capital of Zimbabwe, Thursday, April 3, 2008.   (AP Photo/Xinhua, Liu Xin)
An election poster of Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe, is pinned in an effigy mocking his government in Harare, Wednesday April 2, 2008.
An election poster of Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe, is pinned in an effigy mocking his government in Harare, Wednesday April 2, 2008.   (AP Photo)
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