Zimbabwe's government has stepped up its campaign against opposition MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai, by accusing him of treason.

Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa alleged he was working with Britain to bring about "regime change".

The MDC and several western countries continue to push for the results of last month's election to be published.

Mr Tsvangirai has previously been put on trial for treason but acquitted. He said the UK PM appears on American Idol ...
Mugabe warns of white land battle ...
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Brown calls for worldwide reforms ... charges were political.

The Movement for Democratic Change says its leader won the election and says the delay is to give the government time to rig the results.

The election commission says it cannot release the results until it investigates anomalies - a partial recount is to take place this weekend.

Plot

Mr Chinamasa's comments came as the state-controlled Herald newspaper accused Mr Tsvangirai of approaching the UK government to discuss possible military intervention.

The paper said the details were contained in a "memorandum of understanding" between the Movement for Democratic Change leader and "various right-wing groups" in Zimbabwe and South Africa.

The Herald also said it had details of a letter from UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown to Mr Tsvangirai assuring him that Britain had lobbied southern African leaders to hold an urgent summit on Zimbabwe and that London would impose more sanctions on the country.

"It is clear from the correspondence that Tsvangirai along with Brown are seeking regime change in Zimbabwe, and on the part of Tsvangirai. This is treasonous," Mr Chinamasa is quoting as saying.

Mr Tsvangirai, who is based in Botswana for the moment, and the UK government have not responded to the allegations, but the Herald quotes MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa as disowning the document and accusing the Zanu-PF government of trying to smear the opposition.

Mr Tsvangirai has always dismissed government charges that he is working for the UK and white Zimbabweans, trying to reverse President Robert Mugabe's land redistribution.

Arrests

Mr Brown told the UN Security Council on Wednesday that no-one believed President Robert Mugabe won the presidential election on 29 March.

Mr Brown said a stolen election in Zimbabwe would not be a democratic election at all.

The MDC says Mr Tsvangirai won the poll outright, but results for the presidential election have still not been issued by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission.

Responding to Mr Brown's comments, Mr Chinamasa told the Herald that Zanu-PF had never claimed a Mugabe victory and that unofficial results pointed to the need for a second-round run-off.

In a separate move, the G8 group of major industrialised countries has joined calls for the official results to be published.

Foreign ministers issued a statement urging a speedy, credible and genuinely democratic resolution to the crisis in Zimbabwe.

In Zimbabwe, MDC spokesman Mr Chamisa said more than 50 people had been arrested in townships around the capital, Harare and Bulawayo during a strike called by the MDC.

Police have accused the MDC of trying to incite violence with their call for a strike.

Zimbabwean police reported arresting 30 MDC supporters for obstruction and intimidation, apparently including Chitungwiza MP Marvelous Khumalo.

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(BBC)

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