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Zimbabwe opposition chiefs held Zimbabwe opposition chiefs held
(30 minutes later)
Several Zimbabwean opposition leaders have been detained as they attempted to hold a rally in Harare, opposition officials have said. The leader of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change in Zimbabwe, Morgan Tsvangirai, has been arrested along with several colleagues.
They include Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the Movement for Democratic Change. They were detained as they tried to hold a prayer meeting in Harare.
Police sealed off roads and fought running battles with opposition supporters, using tear gas and water cannons against them, an official said. Police sealed off roads and fought running battles with opposition supporters, using tear gas and water cannons against them, activists said.
The government said the planned prayer meeting would violate a ban on political gatherings. The opposition had vowed to hold the rally which the government said broke a ban on political gatherings.
Opposition activists from the Save Zimbabwe Campaign - a coalition of church, human rights and political groups - had vowed to go ahead with the meeting in the Highfields township.
MDC officials told the BBC that Mr Tsvangirai was being held along with five other members of the top party leadership at Highfields police station.MDC officials told the BBC that Mr Tsvangirai was being held along with five other members of the top party leadership at Highfields police station.
The three-month ban was imposed after violence at an opposition rally last month. The rally was called by the Save Zimbabwe Campaign - a coalition of church, human rights and political groups.
The three-month ban on political meetings was imposed after violence at an opposition rally last month.
On 18 February police used tear-gas and water cannons to block an MDC rally despite a High Court ruling that it could go ahead.On 18 February police used tear-gas and water cannons to block an MDC rally despite a High Court ruling that it could go ahead.
Civil discontent is rising over Zimbabwe's economic crisis, with chronic unemployment and inflation running at more than 1,700%.Civil discontent is rising 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.