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Zimbabwe rally pledge despite ban Zimbabwe opposition chiefs 'held'
(about 2 hours later)
Opposition activists in Zimbabwe have vowed to stage a rally despite an official ban on it going ahead. Senior Zimbabwean opposition activists have been detained in Harare as they attempted to hold a prayer rally, opposition officials say.
The Save Zimbabwe Campaign, a coalition of church, human rights and political groups, plans to hold a prayer meeting in a stadium in the capital, Harare. Police fought running battles with opposition supporters and used tear gas and water cannons against them, one official told the BBC.
But riot police are reported to have sealed off the stadium because a three-month ban on political protests is in place. Earlier, police took up position on main roads to seal off a stadium where the meeting was due to be held.
The government said it would violate a ban on political gatherings.
Opposition activists with the Save Zimbabwe Campaign - a coalition of church, human rights and political groups - had planned to go ahead with the meeting despite the ban.
The ban was imposed last month after violence at an opposition rally.The ban was imposed last month after violence at an opposition rally.
On 18 February police used tear-gas and water cannons to block a rally by the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), despite a High Court ruling that it could go ahead.On 18 February police used tear-gas and water cannons to block a rally by the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), despite a High Court ruling that it could go ahead.
Police say the ban is needed to prevent further disorder. Civil discontent is rising over Zimbabwe's economic crisis, with chronic unemployment and inflation running at more than 1,700%.
'Showdown looming'
Organisers of the current meeting said that they planned to proceed.
"The rally will go ahead," said Nelson Chamisa, spokesman for the MDC. "A major showdown is looming."
But national police spokesman Wayne Bvudzijena said police would not allow the rally to take place.
"We are saying our banning orders are still in place and we expect everyone to respect these banning orders," the French news agency AFP quoted him as saying.
Police had sealed off the stadium and were patrolling the surrounding area, Reuters news agency reported.
The protest comes against a backdrop of increasing civil discontent over Zimbabwe's economic crisis, with chronic unemployment and inflation running at more than 1,700%.
Last month, in an interview to mark his 83rd birthday, President Robert Mugabe said that he had no intention of stepping down.Last month, in an interview to mark his 83rd birthday, President Robert Mugabe said that he had no intention of stepping down.