Groups opposed to the government of President Robert Mugabe are planning a major protest against the Zimbabwean cricket team in Northern Ireland.
The Zimbabwe team, currently on a UK tour, are due to play two matches against Ireland in Belfast tomorrow and in Eglinton, near Derry on Sunday.
No demonstration has been organised for Belfast but people were urged to protest at the Derry match.
Mr Colum Eastwood, chairman of Derry SDLP Youth urged young people from across the island to register strong opposition to the arrest of the leader of the Zimbabwean Movement for Democratic Change, Mr Morgan Tsvangirai. He accused Mr Mugabe of clinging on to power at any price.
"All of us have a duty to stand up to democratic values and for the rights of those who are being persecuted. Just as we demand elections in the north of Ireland, we believe that there should be free elections in Zimbabwe and that the rule of law must be protected."
During the Cricket World Cup earlier this year, two Zimbabwean players, Mr Andy Flower and Mr Henry Alonga were forced into exile for speaking out against the regime.
But the Chief Executive of the Irish Cricket Union, Mr Peter Thompson, warned against mixing sport and politics.
"People are of course entitled to protest if they wish and the Irish Cricket Union respects that right," he said. "Equally, the ICU would expect any protester to respect the right of cricketers and spectators to enjoy the matches unimpeded."
Mr Thompson said the ICU strongly refuted any suggestion that by staging the matches, it was endorsing the political regime. "There are dangers and inconsistencies in mixing politics and sport and the Union believes that politics are best left to politicians," he added.
PA