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| Zimbabwe judge held over MDC bail | Zimbabwe judge held over MDC bail |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Police in Zimbabwe have arrested a magistrate who allowed MDC ministerial nominee Roy Bennett to post bail. | |
| Other magistrates in the town of Mutare have gone on strike in solidarity with Livingstone Chipadze, officials say. | |
| "It is frightening if a magistrate is arrested because he has passed a judgment that is not popular with the state," Mr Bennett's lawyer said. | "It is frightening if a magistrate is arrested because he has passed a judgment that is not popular with the state," Mr Bennett's lawyer said. |
| Mr Bennett remains in custody. He was seized on the day MDC minister joined a power-sharing government. | |
| He is accused of links to an alleged plot to topple President Robert Mugabe. | He is accused of links to an alleged plot to topple President Robert Mugabe. |
| But the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) says the arrest is a political manoeuvre by hardline supporters of Mr Mugabe to destabilise the unity administration. | |
| Warrant seized | |
| Zimbabwean journalist David Farira in Mutare, on Zimbabwe's eastern border, says Mr Chipadze faces charges of criminal abuse of office. | |
| Magistrate Chipadze is accused of improperly allowing Mr Bennett's lawyers to deposit bail money and complying with other bail conditions on Tuesday. | |
| After the bail money and his passport had been deposited with the Clerk of Court, a warrant to free Mr Bennett was issued. | |
| Mr Farira told the BBC the warrant was immediately seized by a senior prison official, who then disappeared with it. | |
| It is not immediately clear when Mr Chipadze will be taken to court. | |
| Mr Bennett was granted bail by the High Court last week but the Attorney General office immediately appealed against the ruling. | |
| Long-time rivals President Robert Mugabe and MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai last month formed a unity government after months of wrangling. | Long-time rivals President Robert Mugabe and MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai last month 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. |