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Zimbabwe Jails Opposition Leaders

No. 2 faces treason charges; Tsvangirai detained, released

By the Associated Press

Posted Jun 12, 2008 2:57 PM CDT
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(AP) – President Robert Mugabe's regime struck at the opposition leadership today, just two weeks before Zimbabwe's presidential runoff election, twice detaining his challenger and jailing the opposition party's No. 2 official on treason charges, which carry the death penalty. Presidential candidate Morgan Tsvangirai was stopped at a roadblock and held at a police station for about two hours before being released. He returned to campaigning, and was again detained by police.

Tendai Biti, secretary-general of Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change, was arrested at Harare airport upon returning from South Africa. A police spokesman said the treason charge related to a "transition document" discussing changing Zimbabwe's government. He said Biti also would charged with making false statements "prejudicial to the state" for announcing election results before the official count was released.

Tendai Biti, Zimbabwe's No. 2 opposition official, was arrested Thursday June 12, 2008 marking a new level of the government's crackdown two weeks before his boss faces longtime leader Robert Mugabe.
Tendai Biti, Zimbabwe's No. 2 opposition official, was arrested Thursday June 12, 2008 marking a new level of the government's crackdown two weeks before his boss faces longtime leader Robert Mugabe.   (DENIS FARRELL)
Morgan Tsvangirai gets off his campaign bus in Harare.
Morgan Tsvangirai gets off his campaign bus in Harare.   (AP Photo)
A young boy holds a campaign poster featuring Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe.
A young boy holds a campaign poster featuring Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe.   (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
Zimbabwe's opposition party Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) Secretary-General Tendai Biti. Biti may face the death penalty on treason charges.
Zimbabwe's opposition party Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) Secretary-General Tendai Biti. Biti may face the death penalty on treason charges.   (Themba Hadebe)
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Copyright 2012 Newser, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. AP contributed to this report.

 
Africa • Zimbabwe • Robert Mugabe • Morgan Tsvangirai • treason • Zimbabwe elections • Tendai Biti • detention

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