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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Zimbabwe nominee will face trial | Zimbabwe nominee will face trial |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| A magistrate in Zimbabwe has ruled that there is enough evidence for politician Roy Bennett to face charges including that of terrorism. | A magistrate in Zimbabwe has ruled that there is enough evidence for politician Roy Bennett to face charges including that of terrorism. |
| The charges against the MDC party's nominee for deputy agriculture minister relate to illegal arms possession. He was cleared of immigration offences. | The charges against the MDC party's nominee for deputy agriculture minister relate to illegal arms possession. He was cleared of immigration offences. |
| Journalist David Farira told the BBC Mr Bennett looked tired in court and shook his head when he heard the ruling. | |
| Last week his party joined the ruling Zanu-PF in a unity government. | Last week his party joined the ruling Zanu-PF in a unity government. |
| The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) says his arrest - on the day the cabinet was sworn in - is a politically motivated attempt to undermine the power-sharing agreement. | The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) says his arrest - on the day the cabinet was sworn in - is a politically motivated attempt to undermine the power-sharing agreement. |
| The party wants Mr Bennett, 52, released from custody, along with more than 30 other MDC supporters and activists who have been detained in recent months. | The party wants Mr Bennett, 52, released from custody, along with more than 30 other MDC supporters and activists who have been detained in recent months. |
| Tension | Tension |
| Magistrate Livingstone Chipadze said Mr Bennett should remain in remand custody until 4 March. | Magistrate Livingstone Chipadze said Mr Bennett should remain in remand custody until 4 March. |
| I do not think it indicates any goodwill Gordon DuguidUS state department spokesman Profile: Roy Bennett | I do not think it indicates any goodwill Gordon DuguidUS state department spokesman Profile: Roy Bennett |
| His lawyers intend to go to the High Court to request bail. | His lawyers intend to go to the High Court to request bail. |
| Mr Farira said there was a deafening silence in court after the ruling. | Mr Farira said there was a deafening silence in court after the ruling. |
| He says tension is building up in the city of Mutare, 270km (170 miles) east of the capital, Harare, where Mr Bennett has been held since Friday. | He says tension is building up in the city of Mutare, 270km (170 miles) east of the capital, Harare, where Mr Bennett has been held since Friday. |
| He said armed police are patrolling the streets as hundreds of opposition supporters have been keeping vigil outside the court in support of the former white farmer. | He said armed police are patrolling the streets as hundreds of opposition supporters have been keeping vigil outside the court in support of the former white farmer. |
| Washington on Tuesday criticised the case against Mr Bennett, suggesting it did not bode well for the success of the coalition government. | Washington on Tuesday criticised the case against Mr Bennett, suggesting it did not bode well for the success of the coalition government. |
| "I do not think it indicates any goodwill," US State Department spokesman Gordon Duguid told journalists. | "I do not think it indicates any goodwill," US State Department spokesman Gordon Duguid told journalists. |
| Mr Bennett, who lost his property under Mr Mugabe's land reform programme, spent eight months in prison in 2004-05 for pushing a minister during an argument in parliament over land reform. | Mr Bennett, who lost his property under Mr Mugabe's land reform programme, spent eight months in prison in 2004-05 for pushing 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 had fled after police sought his arrest in connection with an alleged plot to kill Mr Mugabe. | He recently returned to Zimbabwe after more than two years in South Africa, where he had fled after police sought his arrest in connection with an alleged plot to kill Mr Mugabe. |