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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Mugabe plays down Bennett arrest | Mugabe plays down Bennett arrest |
| (29 minutes later) | |
| Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe says he does not understand why the arrest of former opposition MP Roy Bennett is creating such a stir around the world. | Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe says he does not understand why the arrest of former opposition MP Roy Bennett is creating such a stir around the world. |
| Mr Bennett was chosen by the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) to serve as a junior minister, but was arrested last week and faces a terrorism charge. | Mr Bennett was chosen by the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) to serve as a junior minister, but was arrested last week and faces a terrorism charge. |
| The MDC says the arrest is a plot to destabilise the government, but Mr Mugabe says it is simply a court case. | The MDC says the arrest is a plot to destabilise the government, but Mr Mugabe says it is simply a court case. |
| Meanwhile, Zimbabwe's stock market has opened for the first time this year. | Meanwhile, Zimbabwe's stock market has opened for the first time this year. |
| It traded in US dollars because inflation exceeding 200 million per cent has left the country's own currency virtually valueless. | It traded in US dollars because inflation exceeding 200 million per cent has left the country's own currency virtually valueless. |
| The AFP news agency reported that only one firm out of more than 80 officially listed was open for business. It sold 3,026 shares for one US cent each. | The AFP news agency reported that only one firm out of more than 80 officially listed was open for business. It sold 3,026 shares for one US cent each. |
| Long-time rivals President Robert Mugabe and MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai last week formed a unity government after months of wrangling. | Long-time rivals President Robert Mugabe and MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai last week formed a unity government after months of wrangling. |
| They pledged to make reviving the economy a top priority, but analysts say Mr Bennett's arrest is causing serious difficulties for the fledgling administration. | They pledged to make reviving the economy a top priority, but analysts say Mr Bennett's arrest is causing serious difficulties for the fledgling administration. |
| Amnesty mooted | Amnesty mooted |
| Mr Bennett's detention was particularly controversial because he had spent more than two years in exile after police accused him of involvement in a plot to kill Mr Mugabe in 2006. | Mr Bennett's detention was particularly controversial because he had spent more than two years in exile after police accused him of involvement in a plot to kill Mr Mugabe in 2006. |
| He returned to Zimbabwe to serve as junior agriculture minister in the new government - but was arrested shortly before ministers were sworn in last Friday. | He returned to Zimbabwe to serve as junior agriculture minister in the new government - but was arrested shortly before ministers were sworn in last Friday. |
| He wants to be freed by the courts after a trial because he knows he did not commit the offence Trust MaandaRoy Bennett's lawyer Profile: Zimbabwe's political farmer | He wants to be freed by the courts after a trial because he knows he did not commit the offence Trust MaandaRoy Bennett's lawyer Profile: Zimbabwe's political farmer |
| In what was reportedly his first public comment on the case, Mr Mugabe said: "Across the world I don't know why [it's making headlines] - it's a court case." | In what was reportedly his first public comment on the case, Mr Mugabe said: "Across the world I don't know why [it's making headlines] - it's a court case." |
| The development came as rumours circulated in Mutare, where Mr Bennett is being held, that the MDC and Zanu-PF had framed a deal to give amnesty to those accused of human-rights crimes. | |
| The deal would also have allowed Mr Bennett to be released from jail, according to reports. | The deal would also have allowed Mr Bennett to be released from jail, according to reports. |
| But his lawyer, Trust Maanda, told the BBC: "Bennett does not want to benefit from the sympathy of anybody by way of amnesty. | But his lawyer, Trust Maanda, told the BBC: "Bennett does not want to benefit from the sympathy of anybody by way of amnesty. |
| "He wants to be freed by the courts after a trial because he knows he did not commit the offence." | "He wants to be freed by the courts after a trial because he knows he did not commit the offence." |
| On Wednesday, magistrates decided there was enough evidence to charge Mr Bennett on illegal arms possession and terrorism counts and remanded him in custody until 4 March. | On Wednesday, magistrates decided there was enough evidence to charge Mr Bennett on illegal arms possession and terrorism counts and remanded him in custody until 4 March. |
| The charges against him have changed several times since his arrest last Friday. | The charges against him have changed several times since his arrest last Friday. |
| The MDC, which heads the finance ministry, has been taking measures to tackle the crippled economy by paying government employees in US dollars. | The MDC, which heads the finance ministry, has been taking measures to tackle the crippled economy by paying government employees in US dollars. |
| And Reuters quoted Mr Tsvangirai as saying he was now "engaging the South Africans" in talks about switching to the rand. | And Reuters quoted Mr Tsvangirai as saying he was now "engaging the South Africans" in talks about switching to the rand. |