Zimbabwe opposition: 14 escape 'trumped up' charges

(CNN) -- A judge in Zimbabwe has cleared 14 opposition party members who were facing charges of inciting political violence, the Movement for Democratic Change said.

The court acquitted them Monday on the grounds that the state failed to produce an eyewitness to testify about what happened. The only witness, a police officer, died Monday morning, the MDC statement said.

The party said that more than a thousand members remain in police custody on "trumped up" charges of political violence.

MDC wants these activists and officials released as part of clearing the course for negotiations with the ruling party, President Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF.

Mugabe won a June 27 presidential runoff election that has been widely discredited by international observers.

Opposition presidential candidate Morgan Tsvangirai withdrew days before, saying Mugabe's supporters had orchestrated a campaign of beatings, intimidation and murders against his supporters.

The two sides are in preliminary consultations about reaching a deal aimed at resolving the country's political crisis.

All About Zimbabwe • Robert Mugabe • Morgan Tsvangirai