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Zimbabwe activists to stay jailed | Zimbabwe activists to stay jailed |
(about 4 hours later) | |
A Zimbabwean judge has ruled that 16 activists accused of organising military training to topple President Robert Mugabe must remain in jail. | A Zimbabwean judge has ruled that 16 activists accused of organising military training to topple President Robert Mugabe must remain in jail. |
The group includes human rights activist Jestina Mukoko, who went missing for three weeks before being brought to court last week. | The group includes human rights activist Jestina Mukoko, who went missing for three weeks before being brought to court last week. |
The police had initially denied they were holding Ms Mukoko, who was seized from her home by a group of armed men. | The police had initially denied they were holding Ms Mukoko, who was seized from her home by a group of armed men. |
The abduction and arrests have raised doubts about a power-sharing deal. | The abduction and arrests have raised doubts about a power-sharing deal. |
Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai signed a deal to join a unity government in September but this has never been implemented. | Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai signed a deal to join a unity government in September but this has never been implemented. |
He says he will pull out of the deal unless the abduction of opposition activists stops. | He says he will pull out of the deal unless the abduction of opposition activists stops. |
'Cat-and-mouse' | 'Cat-and-mouse' |
Magistrate Mishrod Guvamombe declared: "This matter remains to be decided in the Supreme Court and the accused cannot be released." | Magistrate Mishrod Guvamombe declared: "This matter remains to be decided in the Supreme Court and the accused cannot be released." |
He did not rule on the charges themselves. | He did not rule on the charges themselves. |
The 16 will appear in court next Monday for a bail hearing, Reuters news agency reports. | The 16 will appear in court next Monday for a bail hearing, Reuters news agency reports. |
The opposition, human rights activists and lawyers all took part in a high-profile campaign for Ms Mukoko, a former state television news-reader, to be taken to court amid fears for her safety. | The opposition, human rights activists and lawyers all took part in a high-profile campaign for Ms Mukoko, a former state television news-reader, to be taken to court amid fears for her safety. |
Some of those detained say they have been tortured while in custody and a judge has ruled that they be allowed to see doctors of their choice. | Some of those detained say they have been tortured while in custody and a judge has ruled that they be allowed to see doctors of their choice. |
Some first went missing in October, says the AFP news agency. | Some first went missing in October, says the AFP news agency. |
Last week, a High Court judge ruled that they should be freed but the state appealed against this ruling. | Last week, a High Court judge ruled that they should be freed but the state appealed against this ruling. |
Earlier this week, five more opposition activists were charged with acts of terrorism. | Earlier this week, five more opposition activists were charged with acts of terrorism. |
These allegedly included breaking into a police station and bombing the kitchen and then blowing up a nearby toilet. | These allegedly included breaking into a police station and bombing the kitchen and then blowing up a nearby toilet. |
Opposition Movement for Democratic Change spokesman Nelson Chamisa told the BBC the charges were trumped up as an excuse to crack down on the opposition. | |
"You can't have a political agreement on one hand and the other you have a cat-and-mouse relationship... trumping up charges against those people you are supposed to be working with in government," he said. | "You can't have a political agreement on one hand and the other you have a cat-and-mouse relationship... trumping up charges against those people you are supposed to be working with in government," he said. |
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