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Zimbabwe nominee will face trial Zimbabwe nominee will face trial
(about 2 hours 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. Mr Bennett, who denies the charges, looked tired 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 President Mugabe's 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. In one of its first moves, the new government announced that soldiers and civil servants would now be paid in US dollars, to help revive Zimbabwe's shattered economy.
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.
TensionTension
Magistrate Livingstone Chipadze said Mr Bennett should remain in remand custody until 4 March. Mr Bennett's 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.
I do not think it indicates any goodwill Gordon DuguidUS state department spokesman class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7889432.stm">Profile: Roy Bennett 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.
I do not think it indicates any goodwill Gordon DuguidUS state department Profile: Roy Bennett
Magistrate Livingstone Chipadze said Mr Bennett should remain in custody until 4 March.
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. There was a deafening silence in court after the ruling, journalist David Farira told the BBC.
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. 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. Dollar allowance
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. 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 transfers of land.
He recently returned to Zimbabwe after more than two years in South Africa, where he had fled after being accused in connection with an alleged plot to kill Mr Mugabe.
Also on Wednesday, Zimbabwe's new Finance Minister, Tendai Biti, announced that some 130,000 government employees would receive $100 (£70) a month tax-free, paid in US currency.
Mr Biti said the measures were designed to "get Zimbabwe working again", after teachers, nurses and doctors stopped working last year, demanding that they be paid in hard currency.
The country has the world's highest official inflation rate - estimated by economists at several billion per cent - which has left Zimbabwe's local currency almost worthless.