HARARE -Zimbabwean police released opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai after arresting him again yesterday as he campaigned for the country's presidential run-off election on June 27th, his spokesman said.
"We have just been released, some five minutes ago. We were not charged but held at Gweru Central Police Station for about three hours," said Mr Tsvangirai's spokesman George Sibotshiwe, who was among those arrested.
"Our vehicles were searched. Its just harassment, but we will be continuing with our campaign tomorrow," he said.
Mr Tsvangirai has been detained four times in little more than a week. He was held for two hours earlier yesterday.
Mr Tsvangirai's latest arrest, at a roadblock outside Harare, came several hours after police said his party's secretary general Tendai Biti would be charged with treason and could face the death penalty if convicted.
"MDC (Movement for Democratic Change) president Morgan Tsvangirai was re-arrested while driving into Gweru, his next stop on his presidential election campaign," the party said.
"The president and his entourage are currently being held at a police station in Gweru," said the statement.
Mr Biti was in police custody in Harare after being arrested at the airport. He flew home from South Africa to help Mr Tsvangirai's campaign against president Robert Mugabe, who is battling to keep his 28-year hold on power in the ruined state.
Police had sought Mr Biti, the third highest ranking official in the MDC, for announcing results of the March 29th first round vote prematurely. "We are charging him with treason and communicating statements prejudicial to the state. For the treason charge he faces the death penalty or life in prison," police spokesman Wayne Bvudzijena said.
The opposition and human rights groups accuse Mr Mugabe's supporters, including the security forces, of arresting and attacking its opponents in an attempt to intimidate the opposition ahead of the run-off.
Mr Tsvangirai defeated Mr Mugabe in the March 29th election but failed to win the absolute majority needed to avoid a second ballot, according to official results. Mr Mugabe's support has been eroded by the economic collapse of the once prosperous country.
Mr Biti had left Zimbabwe shortly after the poll to galvanise support for the opposition within Africa.
He said earlier this week that he was returning to Zimbabwe to help build democracy.
The MDC says ruling Zanu-PF party activists have killed 66 opposition supporters since March. Mr Mugabe and his officials blame the opposition for the violence.
The Southern African Development Community (SADC), a grouping of 14 nations including Zimbabwe, has sent a team of election monitors. Observers from western nations critical of Mr Mugabe's government are not being allowed into the country.
Some 400 SADC observers are expected across Zimbabwe in the next two weeks. The political turmoil has compounded an economic crisis.
Inflation has soared to over 165,000 per cent, unemployment hovers around 80 per cent and food and fuel shortages are commonplace. Millions have fled to neighbouring countries in search of food and work. - (Reuters)