Zambia's opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema, who has been
held in prison since April on treason charges, has been released.
Mr Hichilema was due to stand trial, but instead walked
free from Lusaska's high court after 100 days in custody.
Sources say the charges against Mr Hichilema and five aides
were dropped after a deal was negotiated by the Commonwealth.
He narrowly lost the election to President Edgar Lungu last
year. Mr Hichilema, the leader of the United Party for National Development
(UPND), alleges the vote was fixed, and does not recognise Mr Lungu as
president.
Mr Lungu, meanwhile, faces accusations of growing
authoritarianism. Mr Hichilema was arrested in April, accused of endangering
the president's life after his motorcade allegedly refused to give way to the
one transporting Mr Lungu.
He and his aides "strongly" denied the charge,
which carries a sentence of at least 15 years. Those found guilty can also be
sentenced to death.
But all charges have now been dropped, apparently after a
visit by Commonwealth Secretary General Patricia Scotland, who was in Zambia
last week and met Mr Lungu and Mr Hichilema.
She later hinted Mr Hichilema could be released in the
public interest.
A source had earlier told the BBC he was "definitely
being released today... unless there's a last minute development". bbc
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