Zimbabwean opposition leader Tsvangirai arrested
Saturday, 14 Jun 2008 19:02
The opposition leader has been arrested, according to his party
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Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai and his campaign team have been arrested, according to his party.
The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) released a statement saying its leader and other party figures had been taken to a police station after being stopped at a roadblock.
Deputy information minister Bright Matonga told Sky News that Mr Tsvangirai may have been halted at a checkpoint but added that the opposition leader would not have been detained.
Mr Tsvangirai won more votes than incumbent president Robert Mugabe in presidential elections held in March but did not gain enough votes to win the poll outright. A run-off will now take place between the two candidates on June 27th.
In a rally, Mr Mugabe said he would never accept the country being ruled by the MDC, whom he referred to as "traitors".
In the speech, the leader, who has been president since the country won independence from Britain in 1980, said: "Should this country be taken by traitors... it is impossible. It shall never happen... as long as I am alive and those who fought for the country are alive.
"We are prepared to fight for our country and to go to war for it," he added.
Separately, MDC secretary-general Tendai Biti appeared before a court today on treason charges. He was arrested on arrival in Zimbabwe over documents that police say detail plans for regime change in the country.