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Zimbabwe's Tsvangirai 'arrested' Zimbabwe's Tsvangirai 'arrested'
(about 1 hour later)
Zimbabwe's main opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has been arrested in a raid at his party headquarters, officials from his party have said. Zimbabwe's main opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has been arrested in a raid on his headquarters, officials from his party have said.
He was seized along with about 20 members of staff ahead of a news conference, the Movement for Democratic Change's Tendai Biti told the BBC.He was seized along with about 20 members of staff ahead of a news conference, the Movement for Democratic Change's Tendai Biti told the BBC.
Mr Tsvangirai was admitted to hospital after being arrested earlier in March. Mr Tsvangirai was also arrested earlier this month and later taken to hospital.
The latest arrest came as southern African leaders gathered in Tanzania for talks on Zimbabwe.The latest arrest came as southern African leaders gathered in Tanzania for talks on Zimbabwe.
President Robert Mugabe is expected to be at that meeting. But correspondents say regional support for him is waning following the alleged beating of opposition politicians in police custody earlier this month. President Robert Mugabe is expected to be at that meeting.
"Mugabe is telling them 'I've got the title deeds to Zimbabwe, you can go to hell'. He's saying, 'Stuff diplomacy,'" Mr Biti told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme. The BBC's Peter Greste in Tanzania's capital, Dar es Salaam, says that in private the gathered leaders will give Mr Mugabe a frosty reception following the alleged beating of opposition politicians in police custody this month.
Riot policeRiot police
In the latest raid, the party headquarters in the capital, Harare, was cordoned off before officers went in to make the arrests. In the latest raid, the opposition headquarters in the capital, Harare, were cordoned off before officers went in to make the arrests.
"There's a wall of riot police so you can't actually see what's happening," Mr Biti said."There's a wall of riot police so you can't actually see what's happening," Mr Biti said.
Mr Tsvangirai had been planning to hold a news conference about a spate of recent abductions of opposition members, the party said. Mr Mugabe may get a frosty reception at the Tanzania meeting
Scores of activists were arrested and allegedly assaulted after police broke up an opposition meeting earlier this month. Mr Tsvangirai had been planning to hold a news conference about the arrest and alleged assault of scores of opposition activists after police broke up a meeting earlier this month.
Germany, which holds the European Union presidency, said it was "deeply concerned" at the arrests.
But Zimbabwe's Information Minister Sikhanyiso Ndlovu told the BBC the arrest was a police matter.
"If the police take action it's their prerogative... They are doing their job we can't interfere," he said.
Zimbabwe's Herald newspaper reported on Wednesday that a suspected petrol bomber was arrested amid reports that ruling party offices and a police camp were bombed on Tuesday.
Mugabe is telling them, 'I've got the title deeds to Zimbabwe, you can go to hell' Tendai Biti,Movement for Democratic Change
Mr Biti denied speculation that MDC members were involved as "fiction".
In Dar es Salaam, Mr Mugabe is expected to blame tensions in his country on an opposition campaign of violence.In Dar es Salaam, Mr Mugabe is expected to blame tensions in his country on an opposition campaign of violence.
The government has consistently accused the MDC of using violence and attacking the police.The government has consistently accused the MDC of using violence and attacking the police.
Our correspondent in Tanzania, Peter Greste, says that Mr Mugabe built up strong regional support for standing up to former colonial masters but that is now waning amid the brutal suppression of opposition protests.
The leaders at the summit are expected to tell Mr Mugabe, who has governed Zimbabwe since its independence in 1980, that he should stand down when his term in office ends next year.
Our correspondent says Mr Mugabe has so far seemed immune from verbal attacks from the West may not be so resistant to criticism from his own contemporaries.
Mr Biti told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme that Mr Mugabe appeared defiant. "Mugabe is telling them, 'I've got the title deeds to Zimbabwe, you can go to hell'. He's saying, 'Stuff diplomacy'."
Zimbabweans are grappling with the world's highest inflation - 1,700% a year - while unemployment and poverty are widespread.