Zimbabwe's Bennett to face appeal

Harare, 13 May-(ANA)-Prosecutors in Zimbabwe say they will appeal against the acquittal on Monday of politician Roy Bennett for plotting to overthrow President Robert Mugabe.

The court had ruled that an alleged link between Mr Bennett and a convicted arms dealer had not been proved.

Mr Bennett is a senior member of Morgan Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), which is in a unity government with Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF.

The MDC has said the appeal plans are politically motivated, reports say.

Chris Mutangadura of the attorney general's office said the approach of the judge in Mr Bennett's case had been wrong, the AFP news agency reports.

"It was a piecemeal approach," he said. "He should have considered the merits of the case and the facts which pointed to the accused."

The judge had ruled the prosecution's key evidence - an alleged confession from arms dealer Peter Hitschmann - inadmissible.

He also said prosecutors had not proved that e-mails allegedly linking Mr Bennett to Mr Hitschmann were genuine. (ANA)

FA/ANA/13 May 2010--------