Opposition rally in Zimbabwe

The opposition leader in Zimbabwe has called on his supporters to fight back against intimidation and violence from pro-government groups.

Speaking at an election rally outside the capital, Harare, Morgan Tsvangirai of the Movement for Democratic Change, said his party was not condoning violence, but that he was talking of legitimate self-defence.

At least seventeen supporters of Mr Tsvangirai were arrested as they began gathering for the rally at Glen View.

A party spokesman said the arrests were part of a continuing campaign of intimidation against the opposition and showed that parliamentary elections scheduled for June would not be free and fair. Zimbabwe has been swept by a wave of violence and occupation of land owned by white farmers since President Robert Mugabe lost a referendum on constitutional change, which would have given him more powers.

The opposition accuses Mr Mugabe of orchestrating the violence to distract voters from the dismal state of the economy.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service