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| Swazi opponent on terror charges | Swazi opponent on terror charges |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Swaziland's opposition leader is due in court after becoming the first person arrested under a new anti-terror law. | Swaziland's opposition leader is due in court after becoming the first person arrested under a new anti-terror law. |
| Police arrested Mario Masuko, who leads the People's United Democratic Movement (Pudemo), for alleged possession of weapons-making materials, his son said. | Police arrested Mario Masuko, who leads the People's United Democratic Movement (Pudemo), for alleged possession of weapons-making materials, his son said. |
| Authorities banned Pudemo and three other groups under the anti-terrorism act on Friday and Mr Masuko was arrested at his home over the weekend. | Authorities banned Pudemo and three other groups under the anti-terrorism act on Friday and Mr Masuko was arrested at his home over the weekend. |
| Swaziland is one of the world's last absolute monarchies. | Swaziland is one of the world's last absolute monarchies. |
| The tiny kingdom held its first elections under a new constitution in September, but political parties were not allowed to participate. | The tiny kingdom held its first elections under a new constitution in September, but political parties were not allowed to participate. |
| Following the poll, authorities said they had discovered a number of bomb plots, including one failed attack near one of King Mswati III's royal palaces. | Following the poll, authorities said they had discovered a number of bomb plots, including one failed attack near one of King Mswati III's royal palaces. |
| Swazi Attorney-General Majahenkhaba Dlamini said the groups targeted under the new law were "associated with terrorist acts". | Swazi Attorney-General Majahenkhaba Dlamini said the groups targeted under the new law were "associated with terrorist acts". |
| He said he could not talk further about the evidence, but denied the law was being used to silence critics. | He said he could not talk further about the evidence, but denied the law was being used to silence critics. |
| "The idea is not to punish eminent political opponents, it is to punish entities and persons involved in terrorist acts," he told the BBC's Network Africa programme. | "The idea is not to punish eminent political opponents, it is to punish entities and persons involved in terrorist acts," he told the BBC's Network Africa programme. |
| Mr Masuko is a veteran campaigner for multi-party politics. | |
| He was acquitted on treason charges in 2002, after allegedly calling for the overthrow of the monarchy. |