Armed police in Zimbabwe have raided a house belonging to Prime
Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's party in the latest blow to the country's
fragile unity government.
The secretary-general for Mr.
Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) says about 50 police
"ransacked" the Harare house Friday, claiming they were searching for
weapons.
Tendai Biti told reporters Saturday police took away
"valuable party material" from the house, which is used by top MDC
officials when they are visiting the capital.
Biti accused
President Robert Mugabe and his ZANU-PF party of being behind the raid,
claiming it was in retaliation for the MDC's decision to stop working
with Mr. Mugabe and his party. Prime Minister Tsvangirai has said the
president and his party are dishonest and unreliable.
The prime minister is currently touring southern Africa to brief leaders about why he has suspended contact with Mr. Mugabe.
In
Saturday's edition of the state-owned Herald newspaper, President
Mugabe said the MDC party can attend any summit and appeal to any
leader around the world, but he will not give up his authority.
Mr. Mugabe has described the spilt in Zimbabwe's power-sharing government as a "non-event."
The MDC and ZANU-PF have been at nearly constant odds since forming the unity government in February.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.
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