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Zimbabwe judge frees MDC's Biti | Zimbabwe judge frees MDC's Biti |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A Zimbabwean judge has dropped charges of treason against the secretary general of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, Tendai Biti. | A Zimbabwean judge has dropped charges of treason against the secretary general of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, Tendai Biti. |
He had faced a possible death sentence after being accused of plotting a coup against President Robert Mugabe. | He had faced a possible death sentence after being accused of plotting a coup against President Robert Mugabe. |
But Magistrate Olivia Mariga said prosecutors appeared unprepared to proceed against Mr Biti. | But Magistrate Olivia Mariga said prosecutors appeared unprepared to proceed against Mr Biti. |
It could be a sign that the ruling Zanu-PF wants a proposed coalition government to work, say correspondents. | It could be a sign that the ruling Zanu-PF wants a proposed coalition government to work, say correspondents. |
The decision was announced the day after parliament unanimously passed a constitutional amendment, creating the post of prime minister for opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai. | |
We are going to finish this job that we started of removing the dictatorship of Robert Mugabe Tendai Biti | |
President Robert Mugabe is expected to sign the bill into law shortly. | |
The MDC also wants all of its jailed supporters and activists to be freed before Mr Tsvangirai takes office. | |
Ms Mariga also ruled Mr Biti had been improperly arrested when he was detained in June, in part over a document purporting to lay out opposition plans to overthrow the government. | Ms Mariga also ruled Mr Biti had been improperly arrested when he was detained in June, in part over a document purporting to lay out opposition plans to overthrow the government. |
The document has since been widely dismissed as fraudulent. | The document has since been widely dismissed as fraudulent. |
But Ms Mariga said prosecutors could still revive the case by issuing a summons. | But Ms Mariga said prosecutors could still revive the case by issuing a summons. |
Mr Biti said he was happy at the court's decision and remained defiant. | |
"We are going to finish this job that we started of removing the dictatorship of Robert Mugabe." |
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