Zimbabwe’s war veterans’ spokesman, Douglas Mahiya, has been arrested.

He was taken into custody on Wednesday, the day President Robert Mugabe threatened to punish those war veterans who last week said they were withdrawing their backing for him.

Mr Mahiya, along with about 150 others, attended the meeting of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’ Association which came up with the communique accusing Mr Mugabe of being dictatorial and egotistical.

The BBC’s Brian Hungwe in the capital, Harare, says he has yet be formally charged.

Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights told the AFP agency that he may be charged with “subverting a constitutional government and insulting the office of the president”.

Pressure on Mr Mugabe is growing, with factions in the governing Zanu-PF openly fighting to succeed him and protests about the failing economy.