Zimbabwe dissident in asylum plea

Roy Bennett, the fugitive Zimbabwean opposition leader who is seeking asylum in South Africa, said that Pretoria must recognise his country is led by a tyrant, and allow opponents refuge so they can organise against Robert Mugabe.

Mr Bennett fled to South Africa in March when Zimbabwean state television reported that he was the ringleader of a plot to overthrow President Mugabe's government by force.

The South African government refused Mr Bennett's asylum request last week, saying he could get a fair trial in his homeland. Mr Bennett, who denies the plot claims, is appealing against the decision."It's high time the South African government recognised... Robert Mugabe and his regime has totalitarian rule, has institutionalised violence, has institutionalised theft," he said in his first public appearance in Johannesburg. He was supported by black members of his party and human rights activists.