Police released the Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai after more than nine hours in detention Wednesday amid ominous signs that the government is tightening its grip on the country before this month's presidential runoff.
Tsvangirai spokesman George Sibotshiwe said Tsvangirai was released after being charged for a public order offence "on a spurious charge of attracting a large number of people," his party, the Movement for Democratic Change, said in a statement.
He had to sign an official police caution before he was released along with a group of about 14 party officials from a police station in Lupane, north of the city of Bulawayo. One of his security vehicles was seized.
"This is yet another shameless and desperate act of this illegitimate regime to try and subvert the will of the people of Zimbabwe," the party said.
Tsvangirai, who returned to Zimbabwe 12 days ago despite a possible threat to his life, faces off against President Robert Mugabe in a presidential runoff on June 27.
Police stopped the group at a roadblock while campaigning in towns, north of Bulawayo, the party said. The group included vice president Thokozane Kupe and chairman Lovemore Moyo.
Police comment was not immediately available.
'War zone'
The opposition said while the group has been held they have received news of deaths of seven party activists bringing to 65 the number of supporters killed since March.
"Mugabe is determined to turn the whole country into a war zone in order to subvert the will of the people and steal the election by any means possible," he said in Bulawayo earlier Wednesday.
The opposition and rights groups have criticized the violence and intimidation in the run-up to the vote and some Zimbabweans worry that Mugabe will try to steal the election.
Amnesty International condemned Tsvangirai's detention and said it was "part of a sudden, sharp and dangerous crackdown on political opposition in the run-up to the elections."
The organization also raised concerns about "severely tightening restrictions" placed by the government on international aid agencies distributing food and other assistance to Zimbabweans.
CARE International has been ordered to halt operations pending an investigation of allegations it was campaigning for the opposition. CARE denies that was the case.
Other aid groups have also been told to curb activities in Zimbabwe and there is concern the decision will worsen Zimbabwe's food security problems.
"By introducing restrictions against aid workers in Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwean government is attempting to hide the worst of the state-sponsored violence from the eyes of the world," said Amnesty International.
Fraud and intimidation?
Germany and Britain also called for the immediate release of Tsvangirai and other opposition politicians.
Germany called on Harare to conduct a "second round of voting that is transparent and free of incidents," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
It said Tsvangirai's arrest was "an example of how the government in Harare is trying to weaken the opposition and intimidate voters ahead of the second round of voting."
"That is in no way acceptable," the ministry said in a statement.
At least two of Tsvangirai's rallies since his return have been banned on security grounds by police, who said they could not guarantee his safety.
Although police granted permission for Tsvangirai to hold rallies this week, Mugabe's ZANU-PF party ordered the army to camp on the grounds of the venues, the opposition said in a statement.
The 56-year-old opposition leader left Zimbabwe after the March 29 presidential election and delayed his return late last month after his party said he was the target of a military assassination plot.
Tsvangirai has survived at least three assassination attempts already. In 1997, unidentified assailants tried to throw him from a 10th-floor window.
Last year, he was hospitalized after a brutal assault by police at a prayer rally. Images seen around the world of his bruised and swollen face have come to symbolize the plight of dissenters in Zimbabwe.