Journalist arrested in Zimbabwe

Thornycroft wanted to probe anti-MDC violence

The Zimbabwe correspondent of Britain's Daily Telegraph has been arrested on charges of publishing false information.

Peta Thornycroft, 57, was detained in Chimanimani, 480 kilometres (300 miles) south-east of the capital, Harare.

Thornycroft was questioned for five hours

She was questioned by police in Chimanimani for five hours and then detained overnight.

Mrs Thornycroft was born in the UK, but she is now a Zimbabwean citizen.

The Daily Telegraph's foreign editor, Alec Russell, said the charges against her were without foundation.

He said her arrest was "the latest cynical act by a regime intent on crushing anyone that dares to question them".

It is unclear when she will be formally charged, and when she might be released from police custody.

If convicted, she could face up to two years in prison.

Detained in cafe

Peta Thornycroft is the first journalist to be detained since the controversial re-election of President Robert Mugabe earlier this month.

She had travelled from Harare to Chimanimani to investigate reports of widescale political violence against members of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

After she had been in the town for two hours, she detained by four policemen while sitting alone in a cafe having tea.

According to the Daily Telegraph, she had not yet completed any reporting.

She was taken to a police station and questioned before being told she would be charged with "publishing false statements likely to be prejudicial to state security" and "incitement to public violence".

She was charged under the Public Order and Security Act, which the opposition says is intended to stifle independent views in the Zimbabwe's media.

Under the new law, which was passed in January, criticism of President Mugabe is a criminal act.

Mrs Thornycroft was born in Macclesfield, Cheshire, and moved to Zimbabwe when she was a child.

Now widowed, she has a son, daughter and granddaughter.

Mrs Thornycroft has worked for the Daily Telegraph since last June.

She replaced David Blair, whose Zimbabwean work permit was not renewed.