ZIMBABWE: State lawyers sought a court order to muzzle Zimbabwe opposition leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai yesterday as his supporters said they would defy a police clampdown on protests against President Robert Mugabe.
Mr Tsvangirai of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) appeared in the Harare High Court a day after he was briefly detained for refusing to call off this week's protests, which Mr Mugabe's government says are incitement for a coup.
With the opposition promising to keep up protests until Friday, police kept security tight in the capital Harare. On Monday, they used tear gas, clubs and warning shots to disperse protesters in several towns and cities.
The MDC launched the protests and work boycotts as a "final push" to drive Mr Mugabe from office, accusing the 79-year-old leader of bringing Zimbabwe to the brink of economic collapse amid increasing political repression.
There were no signs of marches in Harare yesterday, with streets largely deserted, shops, banks and factories shut, and military police manning roadblocks.
In court, state lawyers asked Judge Paddington Garwe to tighten bail conditions on Mr Tsvangirai and two other senior MDC leaders - all currently on trial for treason in connection with an alleged plot on Mugabe's life.
State attorney Mr Joseph Musakwa accused Mr Tsvangirai of making inflammatory public statements against Mr Mugabe, culminating in this week's protest call.
Defence lawyer Mr George Bizos said the government was effectively demanding a gag order.
Arguments were expected to continue on Wednesday.
The MDC said police had arrested 250 people in Harare alone and only 50 were released after paying fines. It said police had fired tear gas near a primary school, sending children fleeing.