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Zimbabwe opposition chiefs held Zimbabwe opposition chiefs held
(about 3 hours later)
The leader of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change in Zimbabwe, Morgan Tsvangirai, has been arrested along with several colleagues. The leader of the main opposition party in Zimbabwe, Morgan Tsvangirai, and several colleagues have been detained.
They were detained as they tried to hold a prayer meeting in Harare. They were seized after trying to hold a prayer meeting that the government said breached a ban on political gatherings.
Police sealed off roads and fought running battles with opposition supporters, using tear gas and water cannons against them, activists said. Riot police sealed off roads in Harare and used tear gas and water cannons as they fought running battles with activists, opposition officials said.
The opposition had vowed to hold the rally which the government said broke a ban on political gatherings. The rally had been called by the Save Zimbabwe Campaign - a coalition of groups agitating for political change.
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. Officials for the Mr Tsvangirai's party, the Movement for Democratic Change, told the BBC that he was being held with five other senior members of the leadership at Highfield police station.
The rally was called by the Save Zimbabwe Campaign - a coalition of church, human rights and political groups. MDC spokesman Eliphas Mukonoweshuro said the protesters were not doing anything wrong.
A spokesman for the MDC, Eliphas Mukonoweshuro, said the protesters were not doing anything wrong. Highfield has been turned into a war zone Save Zimbabwe Campaign
"It was not a political rally, therefore it was not subject to the provisions of the public order and security act, and there was no permission required to be obtained from the police," he told the BBC."It was not a political rally, therefore it was not subject to the provisions of the public order and security act, and there was no permission required to be obtained from the police," he told the BBC.
"But the police went ahead and arrested a broad cross section of leaders of civic organisations, political parties, labour and students.""But the police went ahead and arrested a broad cross section of leaders of civic organisations, political parties, labour and students."
The three-month ban on political meetings was imposed after violence at an opposition rally last month.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. A Save Zimbabwe Campaign statement said lawyers were being denied access to detained supporters. It also accused police of forcing shops, bars and churches to shut down for the day.
Civil discontent is rising over Zimbabwe's economic crisis, with chronic unemployment and inflation running at more than 1,700%. "Highfield has been turned into a war zone," it said.
Last month, in an interview to mark his 83rd birthday, President Robert Mugabe said that he had no intention of stepping down. Rising discontent
Robert Mugabe, who has led Zimbabwe since independence in 1980, retains an iron grip on power.
MORGAN TSVANGIRAI 1952: Born in Gutu, central ZimbabweLeft school early to seek work1974: Started working in a mine1988: Secretary General on the ZCTU1997: Organised anti-government strikes1999: Helped form MDC2000: MDC won 57 parliamentary seats2000: Charged with treason, later dismissed2002: Lost elections to Mugabe, charged with treason2003: Charged with treason Tsvangirai profile
Last month, in an interview to mark his 83rd birthday, the veteran president said he had no intention of stepping down.
However civil discontent is rising over the economic crisis, with chronic unemployment and inflation running at more than 1,700% - the highest in the world.
Once the breadbasket of southern Africa, Zimbabwe has had to rely on food imports as agricultural production collapsed after the seizure of white-owned farms was speeded up seven years ago.
Another controversial move, the clearance of slum areas in 2005, left an estimated 700,000 people homeless and affected many more.
A UN report called it inhumane and said it had caused immense suffering among the most vulnerable sections of society.