[JURIST] Zimbabwean police have arrested 15 members of the opposition group Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) [party website] after reportedly uncovering a collection of stockpiled weapons connected to the clandestine Zimbabwe Freedom Movement (ZFM) [manifesto], a group established in 2003 for the sole purpose of overthrowing the regime of President Robert Mugabe [BBC profile]. The 15 suspects are being charged with "possession of weapons of banditry in a plot to overthrow the government by illegal means." While governmental officials say the MDC has strong ties to the ZFM, the link has been denied by MDC representatives, who called the arrests "a state plot to destabilise us ahead of our congress next week."

Zimbabwean police have arrested MDC MP and former Zimbabwean National Army officer Giles Mutsekwa and MDC regional treasurer Brian James, and have called former MP Roy Bennett [Wikipedia profile] in for questioning regarding the alleged coup attempt. The Telegraph has more. SW Radio Africa has local coverage.