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'MDC arrests justified'
17/06/2008 21:20 - (SA)
Maputo - A top official in Zimbabwe's ruling party on Tuesday blamed opposition activists for violence ahead of the country's June 27 presidential run-off, saying their arrests were justified.
"Lots of MDC activists have been arrested and they are in prison," Emmerson Mnangagwa said of the Movement for Democratic Change opposition during a visit to Mozambique.
He said the activists arrested were responsible for violence.
"Zanu-PF has denounced violence. We do not want violence - violence can be traced to MDC," Mnangagwa, also rural housing minister and seen as a potential successor to President Robert Mugabe, told reporters.
The MDC has faced major obstacles in seeking to campaign ahead of the election, with party leader Morgan Tsvangirai detained five times over the past two weeks.
Opposition number two Tendai Biti has been arrested and police say they plan to charge him with treason.
Tsvangirai claims more than 60 MDC supporters have been killed since the first round of the election on March 29.
"Tsvangirai has never been arrested," said Mnangagwa.
"He comes to police-manned roadblocks with un-registered cars and when the police question him he claims he has been arrested. He only wants to attract attention."
Mnangagwa, who met with Mozambican President Armando Guebuza, said he had been sent by Mugabe on a "normal visit ... to exchange information on both countries."
- AFP
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Zimbabwe Special Report
