[Published: Wednesday July 14 2010]
Zimbabwe 'blood diamond' activist freed on bail
Harare, 13 July-(ANA)-A court in Zimbabwe has freed on bail human rights activist Farai Maguwu, who is accused of providing false information about the diamond trade.
The judge dismissed arguments by state prosecutors that he could interfere with witnesses if he was released.
Mr Maguwu, who was been detained for five weeks, denies the charges.
His arrest has delayed a decision by the body which oversees the trade in "blood diamonds" on whether to allow Zimbabwe to resume sales.
He was taken into custody on 3 June after meeting a representative of the diamond trade body, the Kimberley Process, and was previously denied bail.
The Kimberley Process suspended diamond exports from Zimbabwe last November in response to allegations of atrocities committed by security forces in the Marange diamond fields in the east of the country. (ANA)
FA/ANA/13 July 2010--------- |