The country's main opposition leader was freed after beingheld by police for several hours, party officials said Thursday, as southernAfrican leaders gathered in Tanzaniato discuss the crisis in Zimbabwe.

Police denied arresting Morgan Tsvangirai Wednesday as he prepared to talkto reporters about a wave of political violence that left him brieflyhospitalized earlier this month.

"It doesn't matter how long he was deprived of his freedom, he wasstill arrested," Tsvangirai's aide, Eliphas Mukonoweshuro, told TheAssociated Press Thursday.

Tsvangirai, 54, had been arrested earlier this month alongwith about 50 other people as opposition, church, student and civic groupstried to stage a prayer meeting. His supporters said police smashed his headagainst a wall repeatedly.