POLICE intervened at the weekend to avert violent clashes between rival factions of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

There was tension in Chitungwiza as former student leader Arthur Mutambara, now leading a rival faction, addressed a public rally.

As Mutambara addressed cheering supporters, a group of activists who support the other faction leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, appeared in the distance, cheering and singing.

Mutambara's supporters charged towards them, but police intervened to avert potential clashes.

In a statement Monday, a spokesman for Mutambara's faction accused Tsvangirai's group of "hiring thugs" to disrupt their rally.

"MDC would like to express its gratitude to the police for taking swift action to defuse the situation. We also wish to thank our supporters for staying calm in spite of the blatant and unprovoked attack by Tsvangirai's hired thugs," the spokesman said.

The spokesman said 5000 people attended the rally.

The MDC has split into two, and both factions claim to be the legitimate group. Efforts to reconcile the two, or get an "amicable divorce" appear to be floundering which could drag the fight over the party name to the Zimbabwe courts.

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