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Bail is granted to Mugabe critic Bail is granted to Mugabe critic
(31 minutes later)
The secretary general of Zimbabwe's opposition party has been granted bail, a day before a controversial presidential poll run-off.The secretary general of Zimbabwe's opposition party has been granted bail, a day before a controversial presidential poll run-off.
Tendai Biti, of the Movement for Democratic Change, was held earlier this month on treason charges, which his party says are politically driven.Tendai Biti, of the Movement for Democratic Change, was held earlier this month on treason charges, which his party says are politically driven.
The MDC has withdrawn from Friday's poll over fears of political violence.The MDC has withdrawn from Friday's poll over fears of political violence.
Southern African leaders have called on President Robert Mugabe to postpone the vote and negotiate with the opposition.Southern African leaders have called on President Robert Mugabe to postpone the vote and negotiate with the opposition.
The leaders from the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) said conditions did not permit a free and fair election on Friday.The leaders from the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) said conditions did not permit a free and fair election on Friday.
'Condemned''Condemned'
Speaking to the BBC, the head of the MDC said that the ruling Zanu-PF party wanted to proceed with the election to give itself legitimacy. Speaking to the BBC, the head of the MDC said Zimbabwe's army was preparing to force people to vote in massive numbers for Mr Mugabe.
"They need that in order to demonstrate that they have been voted in by the people," said Morgan Tsvangirai. Morgan Tsvangirai told his supporters to vote if necessary to avoid violent reprisals.
href="/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/africa_/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/africa_/html/1.stm', '1214465408', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=500,height=400,left=312,top=100'); return false;">African voices on Zimbabwe's poll crisis href="/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/africa_/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/africa_/html/1.stm', '1214465408', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=500,height=400,left=312,top=100'); return false;" >In pictures "What difference does it make?" he said. "This government is illegitimate, it will remain so."
"Mugabe will be able to be sworn in as president and then he'll go around saying I'm the legitimate leader of Zimbabwe, yet of course the whole world has condemned him," he said. Mr Tsvangirai pulled out of the election on Sunday, over fears of increasing political violence.
Mr Mugabe came second to Mr Tsvangirai in the first round of the presidential vote in March.
Since then, the MDC says some 86 of its supporters have been killed and 200,000 forced from their homes by militias loyal to Zanu-PF. The government blames the MDC for the violence.
Mr Mugabe, who will address his final campaign rally on Thursday, said his government was open to negotiations with "anyone", but only after the vote.
Mr Tsvangirai said negotiations would not be possible if Mr Mugabe went ahead with the run-off.
Mr Mugabe has come under international pressure over the poll
Mr Biti was arrested two weeks ago and charged with treason, which carries the death penalty. He also has been charged with publishing false statements and insulting the president.Mr Biti was arrested two weeks ago and charged with treason, which carries the death penalty. He also has been charged with publishing false statements and insulting the president.
His bail was set at one trillion Zimbabwe dollars, the equivalent of about $200 (£100).His bail was set at one trillion Zimbabwe dollars, the equivalent of about $200 (£100).
The court said that Mr Biti must remain in his home, hand in his passport and the deeds to his house, and report once a week to a police station. The court said that Mr Biti had to remain in his home, hand in his passport and the deeds to his house, and report once a week to a police station.
The court also said the state's evidence appeared, based on their documentation, weak at this stage.The court also said the state's evidence appeared, based on their documentation, weak at this stage.
No postponement
Earlier on Thursday, a senior Zanu-PF official rejected criticism of Zimbabwe's leadership by former South African President Nelson Mandela.
Mr Mandela said Zimbabwe was suffering a failure of leadership ahead of a run-off presidential poll from which the opposition has withdrawn.
Speaking to the BBC, Jerome MacDonald Gumbo said Mr Mandela's statement was "very unfortunate", and added: "I don't see the merit in that kind of statement... [It's] totally unacceptable... the judgement that he has made."
African voices on Zimbabwe's poll crisisIn pictures Asked whether the final round of the presidential vote would be postponed, he said: "There is no chance of that. There is no reason."
Despite Mr Tsvangirai's withdrawal, Zimbabwe's election authority says Friday's vote will go ahead because his letter of notice came too late.
A BBC contributor in the southern town of Masvingo said army chief-of-staff Major General Engelbert Rugeje told a rally that his soldiers would force members of the public to go and vote for Mr Mugabe.
"We are soldiers who do not ask for things, but force things," Maj Gen Rugeje said. "On Friday, we are going to make sure that you go and vote not for a person of your choice, but Mugabe."
Zimbabwean journalist Brian Hungwe also told the BBC that hundreds of people had sought shelter in the South African embassy in Harare, asking for political refuge.
The crisis has drawn growing international condemnation of Mr Mugabe and his government.
The US has said it will not recognise the results of the vote.