Fights break out as Mugabe murder plot trial opens

FIGHTS broke out and tempers were frayed yesterday as Zimbabwe’s main opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai appeared in court charged with plotting to kill President Robert Mugabe.

Baton-wielding police stopped Western diplomats, opposition MPs and independent journalists from entering the Harare court. Several people were arrested.

Mr Tsvangirai and two senior officials from his Movement for Democratic Change party face the death penalty if convicted.