Zimbabwe court acquits Tsvangirai ally

Harare, 10 May-(ANA)-A Zimbabwean court has acquitted a leading politician, Roy Bennett, on charges of plotting to overthrow President Robert Mugabe.

Mr Bennett is a senior member of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC party.

The judge ruled that the prosecution failed to prove that its alleged link of Mr Bennett to a convicted arms dealer was genuine.

The case had threatened to split the country's unity government of long-term rivals Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai.

The MDC had always said the charges were politically motivated and insisted that he be sworn in as deputy agriculture minister but Mr Mugabe refused, saying the courts should first finish the case.

Mr Bennett was already free on bail.(ANA)

FA/ANA/10 May 2010-----------