A court in Zimbabwe has acquitted eight opposition activists who were arrested on Sunday -- the second day of voting in the referendum on a new constitution, which the government lost.

The eight were detained while campaigning in a suburb of the capital, Harare, for a 'no' vote and charged with violating the electoral laws.

But the magistrate said they had no case to answer. Those detained included a politician and human rights lawyer, Tendai Biti, and a women's rights activist, Priscilla Misihairabwi. With parliamentary elections due in April, the governing ZANU-PF party and the opposition are each meeting in the next few days to decide their next moves in the light of the government's defeat. Final figures showed that fifty-five per cent were against the new constitution.

The British foreign office Minister, Peter Hain, said the vote showed a deep disatisfaction within the country.

He said Britain -- the former colonial power -- remained ready to help, but warned there'd be no international financial assistance until Zimbabwe changed its policies.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service