Zimbabwe's opposition Movement for Democratic Change said police are seeking to arrest seven newly elected members of parliament on charges they committed political violence, alleging that this is intended to deprive the MDC of its parliamentary majority.

The seven men sought by the authorities are said to include Shepherd Mushonga, member for Mazowe and Broadwin Nyaude MP for Bindura, both in Mashonaland Central province; and Piniel Denga and Pearson Mungofa, respectively parliamentarians for the Mbare and Highfield East constituencies of Harare Metropolitan province. Another MP-elect, Naison Nemadziwa of Bikita South, Masvingo, was abducted Tuesday by soldiers and remained missing.

Mushonga is wanted in connection with clashes that occurred in Chaona, Chiweshe in May, leaving 13 people dead. Party spokesman Nelson Chamisa said the arrest warrants are a ploy to trim the combined MDC's six-seat majority in parliament when it opens next week.

Elsewhere, the national council of the MDC formation led by Morgan Tsvangirai met in Harare on Friday and endorsed a short-lived transitional government rather than a government of national unity. It said the transitional authority would overhaul the constitution, undertake national healing and reform key institutions, setting the stage for new elections.