Zimbabwe journalists trial goes ahead

A court in Zimbabwe has denied a call by two journalists to dismiss charges against them of violating a new media law.

The magistrate, Lilian Kudya, said the trial of the two - Andrew Meldrum, of the British Guardian newspaper, and Lloyd Mudiwa of Zimbabwe's Daily News - would start on 22 May.

A third defendant, Collin Chiwanza, was cleared.

The two men are accused of abusing journalistic privileges and publishing false information, offences which can now carry a two-year jail sentence in Zimbabwe.

The case arises out of reports - published by the two journalists but later found to be unsubstantiated - that a woman had been beheaded by supporters of the ruling Zanu-PF party.

Critics of the new laws in Zimbabwe fear they are aimed at stifling free speech and suppressing dissent against the government.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service