The treason trial of Zimbabwe's main opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai began Monday with riot police enforcing heavy security almost a year after he was accused of plotting to oust President Robert Mugabe from power.
Tsvangirai and two other high-ranking members of his Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) have been charged with high treason for alleged involvement in a conspiracy to assassinate Mugabe and stage a military coup.
Tsvangirai and his fellow defendants, MDC secretary general Welshman Ncube and shadow minister of agriculture Renson Gasela, pleaded not guilty to the charges after a delay in proceedings when police forcibly stopped several diplomats and journalists from getting into court.
If convicted, the three could face the death penalty.
For his part, Defense counsel, top South African lawyer George Bizos, said his clients refuted the allegations against them. "The accused deny the charge brought against them," Bizos told the courtroom, according to AFP.
However, the chief state lawyer, Bharat Patel, said prosecutors would seek to prove that the three "conspired to remove the head of state and the government and take over the reins of power."
"The state seeks to punish them," he added. (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
