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African leaders in Zimbabwe talks African leaders in Zimbabwe talks
(about 6 hours later)
Leaders from southern African nations are in the Tanzanian capital, Dar es Salaam, for emergency talks on the crisis in Zimbabwe. A summit of southern African countries is due to get under way in Tanzania, with the crisis in Zimbabwe at the top of its agenda.
The summit comes a day after Zimbabwean police launched a new crackdown on the political opposition. Diplomats say leaders will tell Robert Mugabe that he should not stand for re-election in Zimbabwe next year.
The Movement for Democratic Change said leader Morgan Tsvangirai was detained in a raid, but police denied this. The meeting comes a day after police in Zimbabwe detained opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai for a few hours.
Analysts say Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe will face pressure from regional leaders to end the crisis. Police denied Mr Tsvangirai was among those arrested when they raided the offices of his opposition party.
The summit brings together the 14-nation Southern African Development Community. Talks are also expected to address recent violence in the capital of DR Congo, Kinshasa. Police cordoned off the headquarters of the Movement for Democratic Change ahead of a planned news conference by Mr Tsvangirai.
Crackdown He had been expected to talk about the political violence in the country. Earlier this month he was allegedly beaten in police custody following his arrest at a banned rally.
As Robert Mugabe arrived in Tanzania, the US State Department expressed concern about Mr Tsvangirai and urged the SADC summit to hold Mr Mugabe to account "for his misrule, not only over the last few weeks but over the last few years". The BBC's Peter Greste, in the Tanzanian capital Dar es Salaam, says the language at the summit is probably going to be fiery.
class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/6504039.stm">Mugabe's hold over Africa class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/6503049.stm">Media urges pressure Zimbabwe's president will be told in very plain terms, diplomats say, that the region cannot afford to see the situation continue, let alone deteriorate into a civil war that could engulf them all.
The latest incident came after police cordoned off the opposition headquarters in Zimbabwe's capital, Harare, ahead of a planned news conference by Mr Tsvangirai. Mr Mugabe has dismissed such complaints from the West in the past and might find it much harder to ignore those from his neighbours, our correspondent adds.
Opposition officials said Mr Tsvangirai was one of several people detained. Later reports indicated he had been released. International criticism
Police said that they arrested 10 people over petrol bomb attacks, but denied Mr Tsvangirai was one of them. The summit brings together the 14-nation Southern African Development Community (SADC). Talks are also expected to address recent violence in the capital of DR Congo, Kinshasa.
Earlier this month, scores of opposition activists were arrested and assaulted after police broke up a rally. Mr Tsvangirai was badly beaten. class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/6504039.stm">Mugabe's hold over Africa class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/6503049.stm">Media urges pressure As Robert Mugabe arrived in Tanzania on Wednesday night, the US state department expressed concern about Mr Tsvangirai and urged the SADC summit to hold Mr Mugabe to account "for his misrule, not only over the last few weeks but over the last few years".
The beatings drew international condemnation, but Mr Mugabe has blamed the opposition, accusing it of a campaign of violence. The beatings of opposition activists earlier this month drew international condemnation, but Mr Mugabe has blamed the opposition, accusing it of a campaign of violence.
In addition to the political conflict, Zimbabweans are grappling with the world's highest inflation - 1,700% a year - while unemployment and poverty are widespread.
Regional pressure
On Wednesday, a group of six leaders held a special session to discuss a way forward. They are expected to put proposals to the full summit on Thursday.
The leaders 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.
The BBC's Peter Greste in Dar es Salaam says if any governments have the ability to influence Mr Mugabe, it is those in his own neighbourhood.
He has dismissed complaints from the West about human rights abuses and political oppression as the whining of old colonists.He has dismissed complaints from the West about human rights abuses and political oppression as the whining of old colonists.
But, our correspondent adds, his contemporaries across southern Africa cannot be shrugged off as easily. In addition to the political conflict, Zimbabweans are grappling with the world's highest inflation - 1,700% a year - while unemployment and poverty are widespread.
That is why it is hoped the discussions in Tanzania might provide the leverage needed to help end the crisis. On Wednesday, a group of six leaders held a special session to discuss a way forward. They are expected to put proposals to the full meeting on Thursday.
Mr Mugabe has governed Zimbabwe since its independence in 1980. His term in office ends next year but he has indicated he might run again.