Tsvangirai to be quizzed over Mugabe assassination plot

Zimbabwean police have ordered the country’s opposition leader to report to detectives today for questioning about an alleged plot to assassinate President Robert Mugabe.

Morgan Tsvangirai, the leader of the Movement for Democratic Change, has denied the allegations, which were made by a Canadian-based consultants firm.

Ten days ago, the firm released a secretly recorded video of a meeting with Mr Tsvangirai in Montreal.

The video allegedly shows the opposition leader discussing a plan to kill Mr Mugabe, but he has claimed he was framed and that the firm actually works for the President and his ruling Zanu-PF party.

Tsvangirai admitted that he met with representatives from the Dickens and Madson consultants firm about possible publicity it could offer his party abroad.

He said his recorded remarks were taken out of context.

The independent Mass Media Project of Zimbabwe has also suggested that the tape may have been doctored.

A video-timing clock was not erased from the recording and it showed that the tape was heavily edited and may have been "rearranged", according to the media monitoring group.

Mr Tsvangirai is the main threat to President Mugabe’s 22-year rule and is standing against him in election on March 9 and 10.