The opposition mayor of Zimbabwe's capital, Harare, has been released after being detained since Saturday by police who accused him of holding a political rally without permission.

The release of mayor, Elias Mudzuri, and 20 supporters came about after an order obtained from a High Court judge.

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Under Zimbabwe's Public Order and Security Act, police clearance must be obtained for all political gatherings.

Police said he had not obtained this, but the judge "was very clear in his order that it was not a political meeting, it was a civic meeting," according to the mayor's lawyer, Beatrice Mtetwa, who spoke to AFP news agency.

Mr Mudzuri may still be charged with assault - police say he bit an officer's finger during his arrest.

Opposition leaders, however, contend Mr Mudzuri was "manhandled" by police.

The main opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), said that Saturday's gathering was not political but was called to discuss civic matters like waste collection problems.

Power struggle

Mr Mudzuri was elected mayor last March. He has been involved in a power struggle with President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF government ever since.

The government has accused the mayor of incompetence, corruption and insubordination.

On Wednesday, four opposition supporters were arrested for demonstrating against moves by President Mugabe's administration to appoint governors to run the opposition-held cities of Harare and Bulawayo.

The government says the new governors will not interfere with the mayors, but the MDC sees the move as a drive against its growing power.