By Cris Chinaka
HARARE (Reuters) - The army's commander has urgedZimbabweans to defend the country against a "treacherousopposition" that threatened its sovereignty, a state newspaperreported on Saturday.
General Constantine Chiwenga, who the opposition Movementfor Democratic Change (MDC) says is coordinating PresidentRobert Mugabe's re-election campaign, said Western forces ledby Britain were trying to seize control of Zimbabwe.
Mugabe and MDC head Morgan Tsvangirai contest a run-offpresidential election on June 27. The opposition leader won afirst ballot in March but without the necessary majority.
According to the Chronicle, the general said it was"imperative to Zimbabweans (to) remain resolute in defendingtheir sovereignty" after freeing themselves from Britishoccupation, oppression and exploitation at independence in1980.
"The raising of a new flag meant reclamation ofindependence and sovereignty and we should guard thesejealously.
"The former colonial power is manifesting itself through(economic) sanctions and a treacherous opposition, andthreatens these values that we hold so dearly," he said.
Chiwenga did not mention the MDC or Tsvangirai by name, buthe and Zimbabwe's other security chiefs have previously brandedthem puppets of the West who should never be allowed to rule.
"This treacherous act of reducing Africa and her people tomere spoils for powerful European countries is replaying itselfin the present standoff between, on one hand, the UnitedKingdom and her allies and Zimbabwe on the other hand,"Chiwenga said.
The MDC claims 66 of its followers have been killed inattacks since the March poll, while some of the party'sleaders, including Tsvangirai, have been detained.
Zimbabwe's High Court ordered police to bring to court MDCsecretary-general Tendai Biti, who is facing a treason charge,after police questioned the authenticity of a previous order,his lawyer Lewis Uriri told Reuters.
Biti was arrested on his return to the country on Thursday.
(Additional reporting by MacDonald Dzirutwe, edited byRichard Meares)
