Zimbabwe Deports Times Reporter

The Times' Africa correspondent, Jonathan Clayton, has been deported from Zimbabwe today after being detained for eight nights and fined 20bn Zimbabwe dollars (about £125), the paper said.

Clayton, who is normally based in South Africa, was arrested in the southern Zimbabwean city of Bulawayo in the aftermath of the country's disputed election last month.

The Times said Clayton had been cleared of the initial charges of falsifying immigration papers but had been found guilty of charges related to the answers he gave to security officials under questioning. In addition to the fine, he was deported on a plane to South Africa.

"We're extremely relieved to have him out. It was ridiculous of the authorities to hold him in extremely unpleasant conditions and hold this farcical trial," Richard Beeston, the newspaper's foreign editor, told Reuters.

Clayton's deportation comes after a court in Harare yesterday acquitted another British reporter and a New York Times journalist who had been charged with covering the March 29 election without accreditation.

The court dismissed charges against New York Times reporter Barry Bearak and the British journalist, who were arrested almost two weeks ago for covering the elections in Zimbabwe without government permission.

A magistrate ruled that the state had failed to provide evidence of any crime, and ordered that the defendants be released.

Bearak has since left Zimbabwe and is on his way home to Johannesburg, South Africa, the NYT said.

Bill Keller, the executive editor of the NYT, added: "Barry's family, friends and colleagues are overjoyed that the court threw out the preposterous charges against him, and that he is on his way home. His only offense was honest journalism, telling Zimbabwe's story at a time of tormented transition. He had no intention of becoming part of that story.

"We're thankful to many people - in particular some brave and honorable Zimbabweans - who stood by Barry. The American and British consular officials in Harare were a source of counsel and comfort.

"Officials and former officials, civic leaders and journalists' organizations in many countries offered support publicly and behind the scenes. It's hard to know, in a country as politically opaque as Zimbabwe, what made a difference, but we are grateful for all of it."

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