61.   Two bills pushed through Parliament last week give the police sweeping powers of arrest and seizure ahead of the elections, and also limit independent election monitoring.

62.   In January, Mugabe gave police sweeping powers to break up political meetings and criminalized all criticism of him and his government.

63.   A new security law enacted in mid-January gave police sweeping new powers to break up political meetings.

64.   Belarus risks losing its special status on the Council of Europe following protests over a disputed referendum which gave its president sweeping new powers, officials said Tuesday.

65.   Earlier this month, President Boris Yeltsin launched a battle against organised crime by issuing a controversial decree that gives police sweeping powers to detain suspected criminals.

66.   Parliament also passed the Public Order and Security Bill which gives the police sweeping powers to disperse demonstrations and to arrest people for merely criticizing Mugabe.

67.   Police declined comment on the case but confirmed that the four men were being held under emergency laws which give the authorities sweeping powers to arrest and detain suspects.

68.   The act outlawed criticism of President Robert Mugabe, required police permission for public gatherings and gave authorities sweeping powers to detain people without trial.

69.   The parliament granted the government sweeping security powers, made it an offence to criticise the president, and authorised police to disperse public gatherings.