Cautious welcome for release of opposition activists

International organisations and personalities have given a cautious welcome to last week's release of 18 opposition activists in Zanzibar, ordered by the islands' new president
Amani Karume.

The London-based human rights organisation, Amnesty International, which has been actively campaigning for their release, said the move was a "welcome development", but expressed ongoing concern over the current situation in Zanzibar. "We urge the new president to follow his obligations with regard to human rights," a researcher on East Africa told
IRIN. She added that the organisation would be closely watching the evolution of the situation in Zanzibar.

Shortly after Karume was sworn in last week, the state declared it had no further interest in the case of the 18 opposition Civic United Front (CUF) supporters who had been held for three years without trial on treason charges. Their immediate release was ordered, and analysts told IRIN the detention of the 18 had been an issue between the outgoing Zanzibari president, Salmin Amour, and the CUF. With Amour unable to run for a third
term as president, the new leader had no interest in keeping them in jail.

The secretary-general of the Organisation of Africa Unity (OAU), Salmin Amour - himself a Zanzibari - described Karume's move as a "good beginning for the new government". "This is a most welcome decision," he said, according to the Tanzanian 'Guardian' daily. Norway's ambassador to
Tanzania, Nils-Johann Jorgensen, added that the release was "long
overdue".

Another opposition leader, Alec Che Mponda of the Tanzania People's Party, commented that the decision gave the impression "that the new leader aims at forging national unity". "It is a challenge to CUF members who must reciprocate in a manner that will guarantee peace, security and harmony,"
he said.

Presidential and parliamentary elections last month were marred by violence and voting irregularities, forcing a re-run in 16 of the islands' 50 constituencies. The ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party finally won the polls, prompting the CUF to cry foul and demand fresh elections. Over the weekend, it gave a four-month ultimatum for holding new polls, warning that otherwise there would never be peace in the islands of Zanzibar.