Clerics arrested in Harare

Police in Zimbabwe arrested 20 church pastors yesterday for staging an illegal peace march, witnesses said.

The clerics had marched to the police headquarters in the capital, Harare, to deliver a petition protesting against state-orchestrated political violence and strict laws prohibiting demonstrations.

Brian Kagoro, an official with the reform group Crisis in Zimbabwe, said the representatives of the multidenom- inational National Pastors Conference were arrested while waiting to hand in their petition. He said they were held and questioned under the Public Order and Security Act, the law they oppose.

All 20 were released after eight hours according to Jonah Gokova, an official with the charity Ecumenical Support Services.