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Mugabe Detains His Challenger

Tsvangirai's party blasts 'illegal detention' during campaign

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 4, 2008 11:58 AM CDT
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(Newser) – The leader of Zimbabwe’s opposition was detained today while campaigning, MSNBC reports. Morgan Tsvangirai, back in the country to challenge Robert Mugabe in a June 27 presidential run-off, is being held by police along with 14 other Movement for Democratic Change officials, the party said.

“We are currently held up,” an MDC spokesman said. “They are not saying why they are holding us up. They are saying there’s a commanding officer whom we should wait for. It’s not an arrest but illegal detention. It appears they want to disrupt our campaign program.”

Zanu PF supporters chant party slogans at President Robert Mugabe's rally in Shamva, some 100 kilometers (62 miles) north east of Harare, Thursday, May 29, 2008.
Zanu PF supporters chant party slogans at President Robert Mugabe's rally in Shamva, some 100 kilometers (62 miles) north east of Harare, Thursday, May 29, 2008.   (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
In this Thursday May 22, 2008 file photo Zimbabwe's Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai addresses a crowd of displaced Zimbabweans near Johannesburg, South Africa.
In this Thursday May 22, 2008 file photo Zimbabwe's Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai addresses a crowd of displaced Zimbabweans near Johannesburg, South Africa.   (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)
Morgan Tsvangirai leader of Zimbabwe's Movement For Democratic Change party, MDC, delivers a speech in Harare, Zimbabwe Friday, May, 30, 2008.
Morgan Tsvangirai leader of Zimbabwe's Movement For Democratic Change party, MDC, delivers a speech in Harare, Zimbabwe Friday, May, 30, 2008.   (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
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Africa • Zimbabwe • Robert Mugabe • Morgan Tsvangirai • arrest • opposition alliance • Movement for Democratic Change • Zimbabwe elections • Zanu-PF

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