Zanzibar opposition members on hunger strike

Reports from Zanzibar say seventeen members of the opposition Civic United Front, who are in jail on treason charges, have begun a hunger strike in protest at the way their case is being handled.

The accused appeared in court today and were told their case was being adjourned until early February.

A correspondent for the BBC said news of the hunger strike spread rapidly, causing anger among opposition supporters.

The CUF has been boycotting parliament because it disputes the results of 1995 elections in which it campaigned for greater autonomy for Zanzibar, a semi-autonomous part of Tanzania.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service