Britain told Zimbabwe it had promise not to execute...

Britain told Zimbabwe it had promise not to execute opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai if it wanted London's assistance in his treason trial. Tsvangirai, leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), denied allegedly plotting to kill Mugabe and stage a coup before the 2002 presidential polls.
Veteran leader Mugabe won the elections amid vote-rigging charges by both the opposition and several Western countries.
The government asked Britain for help in finding a potential witness for Tsvangirai's trial who was in the United Kingdom.
The state's case against Tsvangirai, who could face hanging if convicted, hinged mainly on a videotape of a meeting he held with Canadian-based political consultant Ari Ben-Menashe where prosecutors said Mugabe's "elimination" was discussed.
As the defence closed its case in the High Court, Acting Attorney-General Bharat Patel said the state had failed to locate another potential witness Rupert Johnson.
Johnson, a Zimbabwean-born grain trader living in Britain, introduced Tsvangirai to Ben-Menashe. Patel said his department had written to British authorities asking for help in bringing Johnson to Zimbabwe, and giving assurances he would not be charged with treason, detained or harassed.
"The UK authorities have written saying they cannot do so (help Zimbabwe get Johnson as a witness) in a case where the death sentence might be imposed," Patel said.
"They want assurances that the death sentence will not be imposed...but we have said that is for the court."