Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai says his Movement for Democratic Change, MDC, is "disengaging" from the coalition government with President Robert Mugabe.

The disengagement follows the arrest this week of a senior MDC official, Roy Bennett, who was the party's candidate for deputy agriculture minister. He was jailed on Monday on charges of terrorism. Mr Bennett is a white farmer whose land was seized as part of the "land reform programmd" of President Mugabe.

Mr Tsvangirai says the MDC will not collaborate with President Mugabe's ZANU-PF "until confidence has been restored". The MDC accuses the ZANU-PF of persecuting its legislators and activists.

Although the MDC will not take part in cabinet and ministerial meetings, the ministers will continue to hold their positions and will attempt to exercise their powers.

Mr Tsvangirai and President Mugabe agreed to form a coalition government in February. There have since been constant disputes over which party will supply ministers for key posts. Mr Tsvangirai says new elections should be called if the current crisis continues.

Zimbabwean PM Morgan Tsvangirai
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