Annan appeals to Zimbabweans to settle differences

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan appealed on Thursday to government and opposition in Zimbabwe to respect democracy, after several politicians were arrested in a crackdown on public dissent, AFP reported. Spokesman Fred Eckhard said Annan was "following these issues very carefully, and following them with concern".

He said Annan was in contact with President Robert Mugabe, and added: "He appeals to both the government and the opposition to resolve their differences peacefully through the democratic process and in accordance with the constitution."

A police spokesman in Harare said on Tuesday that three leading members of the main opposition party - the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) - had been arrested on charges of inciting violence at public rallies. The party later said that one of the three, MDC vice-president Gibson Sibanda, had been questioned by police but not arrested.

Police said MDC youth leader Nelson Chamisa had been released on bail, but it was unclear what had happened to another party member, Innocent Kanjenzana, after charges were laid. Last week, riot police used truncheons to break up a march by a few dozen MDC youth members through downtown Harare.

A week earlier, Home Affairs Minister John Nkomo had warned anti-government demonstrators that they would be "dealt with swiftly and ruthlessly." Nkomo gave the warning during a strike by civil servants, who police also refused to allow to stage public protests.