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Zimbabwe court sets tough bail conditions for opposition chief
Harare, June 20: A high court judge in Zimbabwe today set tough bail conditions for opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, who has spent 14 nights in jail on treason charges after allegedly calling for the violent ouster of President Robert Mugabe.
Harare, June 20: A high court judge in Zimbabwe today set tough bail conditions for opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, who has spent 14 nights in jail on treason charges after allegedly calling for the violent ouster of President Robert Mugabe.
Justice Susan Mavangira set bail at 10 million Zimbabwe dollars (12,500 dollars / 10,700 Euros) and ordered Tsvangirai to lodge title deeds for property worth 100 million Zimbabwe dollars with the court.
The ruling handed down by Mavangira also barred Svangirai from making "any statement that advocates the removal of government or the state president by violence" and said he "is not allowed to incite his supporters to remove the government through violence."
Mavangira said bail had been set "with appropriate conditions" to allow "a balance between the liberty of the accused and the interest of justice."
Tsvangirai was not present during the ruling, but attended his ongoing trial for treason on separate charges in another courtroom.
The MDC leader was still in police custody early today afternoon and was due to return to remand prison before he could be formally released.
His lawyer George Bizos said he had been given assurances that the MDC leader would be released later today.
Fifty-one-year-old Tsvangirai was arrested on June 6, the last day of week-long anti-government protests called for by his Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party.
The opposition chief, who began his political career as a Labour leader, was charged with treason for allegedly inciting the violent overthrow of Mugabe's government during rallies ahead of the mass action.
Bureau Report
The ruling handed down by Mavangira also barred Svangirai from making "any statement that advocates the removal of government or the state president by violence" and said he "is not allowed to incite his supporters to remove the government through violence."
Mavangira said bail had been set "with appropriate conditions" to allow "a balance between the liberty of the accused and the interest of justice."
Tsvangirai was not present during the ruling, but attended his ongoing trial for treason on separate charges in another courtroom.
The MDC leader was still in police custody early today afternoon and was due to return to remand prison before he could be formally released.
His lawyer George Bizos said he had been given assurances that the MDC leader would be released later today.
Fifty-one-year-old Tsvangirai was arrested on June 6, the last day of week-long anti-government protests called for by his Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party.
The opposition chief, who began his political career as a Labour leader, was charged with treason for allegedly inciting the violent overthrow of Mugabe's government during rallies ahead of the mass action.
Bureau Report