Reforms in Zimbabwe? Probably not

Times:

Zimbabwean police fired teargas yesterday and charged several hundred demonstrators who were demanding a democratic constitution, water, electricity and the right to draw money from banks without queueing.

The leader of the Opposition was detained, ten demonstrators were treated in hospital and dozens were arrested, lawyers said.

Morgan Tsvangirai, the leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), was released later to address supporters on a vacant lot next to a stadium on the outskirts of the Zimbabwean capital, where the rally had been scheduled to take place.

Mr Tsvangirai said that the police clampdown proved that President Mugabe was not serious about his pledge to hold free elections in March and announced that his party would respond by stepping up protests. Mr Mugabe had “failed the test for a free and fair election”, Mr Tsvangirai said. “If this is the regime's reaction then elections are just a farce.”

...

Mr Chamisa said that police seized Mr Tsvangirai at about 4am from his home in Harare and released him five hours later. He described the arrest and the ban on the march as a deliberate snub to South African efforts to find a solution to Zimbabwe's crisis.

...

If Tsvangirai was seized at his home at 4 a.m. it is unlikely he was demonstrating at the time. It is also unlikely that Mugabe can survive a fair election so no one should hold their breath on that promise. Has Keith Olbermann ever heard of Mugabe?