Prominent human rights lawyer arrested

A PROMINENT Zimbabwean human rights lawyer was arrested Thursday at a court in Harare, colleagues said.

Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights director Irene Petras said Alec Muchadehama was arrested at a magistrates court where he had gone to work.

He was taken to Harare Central Police Station. Police at the station confirmed he was there, but would not say on what charges he was being held.

Muchadehama is well known for representing political and human rights activists and victims of state violence. He has been arrested and beaten by police in the past.

Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights said last week it feared the attorney general's office and some police officers were planning to arrest Muchadehama for allegedly facilitating "the improper release" of three political detainees he represented.

The three were among 18 human rights and MDC activists accused of terrorism over an alleged plot to topple President Robert Mugabe. Last week, a magistrate revoked their bail, sending them back to jail and prompting international outrage.

Fifteen of the suspects were freed after one night, following the intervention of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, a former opposition leader who joined a unity government in February. On Wednesday, the High Court reinstated bail for the last three.

In a speech Wednesday, Tsvangirai said hard-liners left over from the old regime were violating the rule of law and the agreement that created the unity government.

The situation is making foreign donors reluctant to grant development aid, Tsvangirai added in a speech marking his government's first 100 days in power. - AP