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| Zimbabwe 'treason case dropped' | Zimbabwe 'treason case dropped' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Charges of treason against Zimbabwean politician Roy Bennett have been dropped, and replaced with other allegations, his party says. | Charges of treason against Zimbabwean politician Roy Bennett have been dropped, and replaced with other allegations, his party says. |
| The new charge is conspiring to acquire arms with a view to disrupting essential services, the MDC said. | The new charge is conspiring to acquire arms with a view to disrupting essential services, the MDC said. |
| Mr Bennett, a deputy ministerial nominee, was arrested on Friday shortly before President Robert Mugabe swore in new ministers of the unity government. | Mr Bennett, a deputy ministerial nominee, was arrested on Friday shortly before President Robert Mugabe swore in new ministers of the unity government. |
| His lawyer, Trust Maanda, said the treason case did not "hold water". | His lawyer, Trust Maanda, said the treason case did not "hold water". |
| "The police must have realised that they had no leg to stand on," Mr Maanda told the AFP news agency. | "The police must have realised that they had no leg to stand on," Mr Maanda told the AFP news agency. |
| But Mr Bennett remains in custody. | But Mr Bennett remains in custody. |
| "Bennett is currently being interviewed by the police. He is now appearing in court on Monday facing fresh charges," Mr Maanda added. | "Bennett is currently being interviewed by the police. He is now appearing in court on Monday facing fresh charges," Mr Maanda added. |
| There was no confirmation from the police or justice officials that the charges had been changed. | There was no confirmation from the police or justice officials that the charges had been changed. |
| Prison term | |
| Mr Bennett is a senior member of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). | Mr Bennett is a senior member of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). |
| He had been picked by the party to be deputy agriculture minister in the new unity government. | He had been picked by the party to be deputy agriculture minister in the new unity government. |
| Under a power-sharing deal agreed after months of talks following disputed elections, President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF is to have 15 posts and the two factions of the MDC 16 posts in the government. | Under a power-sharing deal agreed after months of talks following disputed elections, President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF is to have 15 posts and the two factions of the MDC 16 posts in the government. |
| I should imagine if one gets to hell, that is what you experience Roy Bennett, after serving a prison term in Zimbabwe class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7889432.stm">Profile: Roy Bennett | |
| The MDC has described Mr Bennett's detention as "scandalous" and "politically motivated". | |
| A white farmer who lost his property under Mr Mugabe's land reform programme, Mr Bennett was imprisoned from October 2004 to June 2005. | |
| The sentence was imposed by other MPs after he pushed a minister during an argument in parliament over land reform. | |
| He recently returned to Zimbabwe after more than two years in South Africa, where he fled after police sought his arrest in connection with an alleged plot to kill Mr Mugabe. |