Zimbabwe judge orders MDC release

The MDC says the charges facing Mr Bennett are trumped up

Zimbabwe's Supreme Court has ordered the state to release Roy Bennett - a ministerial nominee of the former opposition MDC party - on bail.

He was arrested on 13 February as MDC officials were sworn in as ministers.

Mr Bennett says charges of plotting to kill President Robert Mugabe are a plot to destabilise the unity government.

The state had appealed against a High Court order granting bail to Mr Bennett, named by the MDC as deputy agriculture minister.

But Mr Bennett's lawyers Beatrice Mtetwa told Reuters news agency she did not know when he would be set free.

"This is a complex matter and court orders don't mean much here, but we're making every effort to get a warrant of liberation."

She said Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku had tightened the bail conditions - ordering Mr Bennett to report to a police station three times a week and surrender his passport and title deeds for his house.

ROY BENNETT Farmer 2000: Elected MP 2004: Jailed after pushing minister in parliament 2006: Accused of plot to kill President Mugabe 2006: Fled to South Africa 2009: Nominated as deputy agriculture minister 2009: Arrested Profile: Zimbabwe's political farmer

Last week, a judge in the eastern town of Mutare, where Mr Bennett has been detained, was arrested after allowing his lawyers to post bail money.

The prosecution appeal meant that the MDC treasurer remained in custody.

Mr Bennett is a white farmer, whose land has been seized under Mr Mugabe's land reform programme. Some of his employees were killed and assaulted during the violence.

An MP since 2000, he was jailed in 2004 after pushing a minister in parliament during a heated debate about land reform.

After being accused of links to the alleged plot to kill Mr Mugabe in 2006, he fled to South Africa, saying he feared for his life.

Long-time rivals President Robert Mugabe and Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai last month formed a unity government after months of wrangling.

They pledged to make reviving the economy a top priority, but analysts say Mr Bennett's arrest is causing serious difficulties for the fledgling administration.