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| Beatrice Mtetwa case: Zimbabwe court grants lawyer bail | Beatrice Mtetwa case: Zimbabwe court grants lawyer bail |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A Zimbabwe court has granted bail to prominent lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa who was detained a day after last week's constitutional referendum. | A Zimbabwe court has granted bail to prominent lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa who was detained a day after last week's constitutional referendum. |
| Her lawyer, Harrison Nkomo, told the BBC he was on his way to pay the $500 (£330) bail. | Her lawyer, Harrison Nkomo, told the BBC he was on his way to pay the $500 (£330) bail. |
| Her continued detention has been condemned by international human rights groups. | Her continued detention has been condemned by international human rights groups. |
| She was detained during a raid on the offices of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). | She was detained during a raid on the offices of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). |
| Ms Mtetwa was charged with obstructing justice after she intervened in the raid and three computers are alleged to have gone missing. | Ms Mtetwa was charged with obstructing justice after she intervened in the raid and three computers are alleged to have gone missing. |
| The four MDC members have been charged with impersonating police officers. They all deny the charges and say they were compiling information on corruption. | The four MDC members have been charged with impersonating police officers. They all deny the charges and say they were compiling information on corruption. |
| High Court Judge Joseph Musakwa overturned an earlier decision by a magistrate to deny bail to Ms Mtetwa. | High Court Judge Joseph Musakwa overturned an earlier decision by a magistrate to deny bail to Ms Mtetwa. |
| "The appellant should not have been denied bail. She is a practitioner of many years of experience," the judge told a packed courtroom which included Zimbabwean Finance Minister Tendai Biti and Constitutional Affairs Minister Eric Matinenga, reports the AFP news agency. | "The appellant should not have been denied bail. She is a practitioner of many years of experience," the judge told a packed courtroom which included Zimbabwean Finance Minister Tendai Biti and Constitutional Affairs Minister Eric Matinenga, reports the AFP news agency. |
| The new constitution was overwhelmingly approved by voters and was generally peaceful. | The new constitution was overwhelmingly approved by voters and was generally peaceful. |
| But allies of MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai say the arrest of his officials and Ms Mtetwa are a sign that critics of President Robert Mugabe will face intimidation ahead of elections expected later this year. | But allies of MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai say the arrest of his officials and Ms Mtetwa are a sign that critics of President Robert Mugabe will face intimidation ahead of elections expected later this year. |
| Mr Mugabe, 89, and Mr Tsvangirai, 61, are currently in a power-sharing government but are expected to be the main contenders in the presidential election. | |
| The two leaders have repeatedly called for a peaceful poll - five years after a vote marred by widespread violence and intimidation. |