Morgan Tsvangirai arrested in Robert Mugabe blitz

Zimbabwe opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai and senior officials from his Movement for Democratic Change were held by police last night, amid heightened alarm that Robert Mugabe is planning to steal this month's runoff presidential election.

Mr Tsvangirai was campaigning when police stopped his convoy and took the opposition leader and about 14 MDC officials to a police station in Lupane, north of Bulawayo.

"It's the whole entourage of (Mr Tsvangirai), including his security personnel and other senior party officials," MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa said.

Others arrested included the party's deputy leader, Thokozani Khupe, and MDC chairman Lovemore Moyo.

Mr Tsvangirai's detention came as aid group Care International said yesterday the Mugabe Government had halted its operations in the country for allegedly campaigning for the opposition.

Zimbabwe had ordered Save the Children UK and ADRA to stop work in the country immediately, according to Cephas Zinhumwe, chief executive of the National Association of Non-Governmental Organisations.  The Australian

UPDATE: He is released the next day...
UPDATE: And he is arrested again...

Mugabe is attending a UN world food conference in Rome.