DON’T MISTREAT ‘SMUGGLERS’, WARNS US

THE United States wants an assurance that three US nationals arrested in connection with smuggling weapons into the country will not be ill-treated while in police custody. An official at the US embassy in Harare said his office will register its concerns if it finds the three are being mistreated. The state-controlled Herald newspaper reports the request was made at an urgent meeting the embassy sought with Foreign Minister Stan Mudenge on Wednesday. The three Americans were arrested on Sunday in connection with a large consignment of arms and other lethal equipment as they waited to fly out of Zimbabwe.