Morgan Tsvangirai, the opposition leader in Zimbabwe, was detained for four hours today after a pre-dawn raid on his home, hours before he was due to lead a banned political reform rally in the capital.
His 4am arrest was part of large security crackdown aimed at stopping the rally. Police have blocked all major roads leading into the center of the capital, Harare.
The opposition vowed to go ahead with the march, which was due to start at 11am (9am GMT).
Nelson Chamisa, a spokesman for Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change, said the arrest and blockade were a deliberate snub to South African efforts to mediate in Zimbabwe.
"It’s a mockery of President (Thabo) Mbeki’s efforts. It’s a mockery of African solutions to African problems. It’s a mockery to humankind," he said.
Speaking before Tsvangirai’s release, Chamisa said: "The march is on. Morgan Tsvangirai was not the only one who was going to march. We are not going to be intimidated."
Police banned the march yesterday, saying the organizers had "sinister motives".
State radio said police intelligence reports indicated the Movement for Democratic Change was working "outside the spirit" of an initial agreement to permit the march.
"Police do not believe the march will be held in a peaceful and tranquil manner and it is felt it is not in the interest of public security for it to proceed," the police said.
Statements by Tsvangirai, Chamisa and other officials called for marchers on the "Freedom Walk" to pressure the government and ruling party, the police said.
Tsvangirai at a weekend rally repeated demands for more constitutional and electoral reforms before the elections and dismissed as fraud the redrawing of electoral boundaries to increase the number of parliament seats.
The opposition has called for the vote to be delayed to June, but the president, Robert Mugabe, has insisted it will be in March.
Changes to Zimbabwe’s media, security and electoral laws have been negotiated in South African-led talks between the ruling party and opposition. They came into force on January 11.
The new laws relax rules for journalists to obtain licenses, and set up a new licensing authority – the Zimbabwe Media Commission.
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