Zimbabwe activist freed

Mugabe is wary of street protests

Lovemore Madhuku, a pro-democracy campaigner arrested on Monday, has been freed following a court ruling throwing out all charges against him.

He had been accused of conspiracy to commit public violence, under a controversial security law passed before last month's disputed presidential election.

There was no basis for the police to arrest him

Madhuku's lawyer

Mr Madhuku, who heads the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA), was arrested along with two other top NCA officials.

His release follows anti-government protests staged by the NCA in Zimbabwean cities on Tuesday, in defiance of a police ban.

Broad powers

In the ruling releasing Mr Madhuku, the court said the state had failed to back up its case.

"There was no basis for the police to arrest him," Mr Madhuku's lawyer, Andrew Makoni told AFP news agency.

The NCA's Lovemore Madhuku is now free

Mr Makoni said many people arrested during Tuesday's protests faced similar charges to those brought against his client.

The NCA is a coalition of church groups, students and trade unions campaigning for a reduction in the powers of President Robert Mugabe.

The current constitution, negotiated with Britain at independence in 1980, gives Mr Mugabe broad executive powers, which he used to change electoral rules up to a day before voting began in March.

Earlier this month, the NCA said that around 400 activists were arrested ahead of similar planned demonstrations.

Flawed poll

Mr Mugabe's re-election was marred by accusations of vote-rigging and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has asked the courts to annul the results.

The opposition alleges massive fraud

The MDC leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, has called for fresh elections.

But President Mugabe denies the allegations of fraud and has said no new presidential poll will be held until his term expires in six years' time.

The Commonwealth has said the poll was held in a "climate of fear" and suspended Zimbabwe for a year.

The security law gives the police sweeping new powers to break up public gatherings.