POLICE in Tanzania’s semi-autonomous islands of Zanzibar and Pemba on Monday briefly detained opposition leader Seif Shariff Hamad. The privately-owned Alasiri tabloid reported that Hamad, secretary general of Zanzibar’s main opposition party, the Civic United Front, was detained shortly after the high court here adjourned the trial of 18 CUF members charged with treason. It was not immediately clear why Hamad had been held, but Alasiri speculated that it was in connection with clashes on Sunday between police and CUF supporters at Magomeni, Zanzibar. Several civilians and two policemen were hurt when armed police stormed a house where Hamad was chairing a CUF meeting.