HARARE - Lawyers for a minister in Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC party, who was arrested after he called President Robert Mugabe a liar, say he has gone "missing"

Jameson Timba, a Minister of State in Tsvangirai's office, was arrested on Friday. Attorney Selby Hwacha said on Saturday he sought a court order forcing police to disclose Timba's whereabouts and allow attorneys to see him.

Zanu-PF has accused Timba of insulting Mugabe when he said the president lied over the outcome of a recent regional summit on Zimbabwe. Douglas Mwonzora, chief spokesperson for MDC-T, said there were fears for Timba's safety after party "sympathisers in the police" said he had been assaulted in custody.