Zimbabwean authorities have released a group of 13 human rights demonstrators who were arrested while protesting the detention of activists from Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's party, the group said Saturday.
The 13 demonstrators were part of a protest by the group Restoration of Human Rights, which had gathered Wednesday at the high court in central Harare to press for the release of seven people being held without charge in what activists called a crackdown on opponents of President Robert Mugabe.
They were released late Friday after agreeing to each pay a $10 (seven-euro) fine for a charge of creating a public nuisance.
"We paid the fines for them not because they were wrong, but to avoid having them spend the weekend in filthy cells," Restoration of Human Rights spokesman Stendrick Zvorwadza told AFP.
The group has accused the police of bias, saying they unfairly target members of Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) while protecting supporters of long-time leader Mugabe.
The two rivals share power in a tense coalition government formed in the wake of violent and inconclusive elections in 2008.
The seven MDC members in custody are part of a group of more than 20 activists arrested over the killing of a police officer during clashes in Glen View township in May.
They are accused of killing the officer during violence that erupted after police blocked an MDC rally in the Harare township.
The seven, who deny involvement, have not been formally charged. They were denied bail.
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