A top aide to Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai went on trial Monday, facing terrorism and weapons-smuggling charges.
Mr. Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change says the case against Roy Bennett is politically motivated - in the prime minister's words, a "malicious prosecution."
The case in Zimbabwe's High Court has been adjourned until Wednesday so the judge can consider submissions made by the state and defense attorneys.
The state says Bennett's defense outline was presented improperly, while the defense says a key prosecution witness should not be allowed to testify.
Bennett, a white former coffee farmer, is one of most popular leaders in Mr. Tsvangirai's MDC party. The party has designated him to be deputy agriculture minister in Zimbabwe's power-sharing government.
He was arrested in February on charges dating back to 2006, when a weapons dealer was arrested and initially charged with plotting to assassinate President Robert Mugabe.
The weapons dealer signed a confession implicating Bennett and others in the alleged plot, but later recanted and told reporters he had been tortured before signing the document.
* VoA
