Dozens of activists have been arrested in Zimbabwe accused of plotting Egypt-style protests against the rule of President Robert Mugabe.
Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe
Police said they detained 46 people who were attending a "subversive" meeting in capital city Harare.
"Videos of the uprising in Egypt and Tunisia were being shown to the guests who attended as a way to motivate the people to subvert a constitutionally-elected government," police inspector James Sabau said.
They were arrested while they were having a normal academic debate.Marufu Mandevere, defence lawyer
Those arrested include trade unionists, student leaders and Munyaradzi Gwisai, the organiser of the meeting, who heads a radical pressure group. They are due to appear in court later this week.
Lawyers for the 46 have denied they were plotting anti-government protests.
"They were arrested while they were having a normal academic debate," defence lawyer Marufu Mandevere said.
The arrests show the extent of Robert Mugabe's grip on Zimbabwe, 31 years into his rule and two years into a fractious power-sharing agreement with the Movement For Democratic Change (MDC).
Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai
Mr Mugabe, who has just turned 87, is accused of blocking political reform in the country and orchestrating renewed violence against his opponents.
In the disputed 2008 election, scores of MDC activists were murdered by supporters of Mr Mugabe's Zanu PF.
The opposition has warned that incidents of political violence are increasing again.
Mr Mugabe, keen to be free of the power-sharing deal, has threatened to call elections this year, despite the lack of progress on a promised new constitution which is meant to pave the way for a free and fair vote.
The prime minister and MDC leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, says Mr Mugabe has no right to unilaterally call for a new poll and has warned that his party will boycott any early election.