A Zimbabwean magistrate today put off a ruling on whether a human rights campaigner and other activists charged with plotting to overthrow the government should be freed pending trial.
Jestina Mukoko, head of a local rights group, two other rights campaigners and six opposition activists were charged last week with recruiting or trying to recruit people to undergo military training to topple President Robert Mugabe's government.
The case has deepened doubts about whether power-sharing between Mugabe and the main opposition is possible in a country now suffering economic meltdown and a cholera outbreak.
A High Court judge last week declaring the detention of Ms Mukoko and her eight co-accused unlawful and ordered their immediate release, but the government appealed.
Magistrate Mishrod Guvamombe reserved judgment until Wednesday on whether the accused, who appeared in court, should be freed pending trial.
He said the accused - some of whom have accused police of torture - should be allowed to see a doctor of their choice while in a prison hospital.
Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the opposition MDC, has threatened to suspend negotiations with Mugabe's Zanu-PF party over the case.
The High Court last week also ordered 14 other activists, mainly opposition supporters who did not appear in court, to be freed from police custody because their detention was illegal.
South Africa, the country with the greatest influence on Zimbabwe, said on Monday that the arrests should not delay the formation of a government.
Mr Tsvangirai won the first round of voting in March elections but fell short of the majority needed to become president, triggering a run-off which Mugabe won after the MDC leader pulled out, citing violent attacks on his supporters.
Reuters