Zimbabwe's main opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, has been formally charged with treason only days after losing a disputed election to President Robert Mugabe. 

Authorities Wednesday in the capital, Harare, charged Mr. Tsvangirai and an opposition member of parliament, Renson Gasela, over an alleged plot to assassinate President Mugabe. The two were released on bail. 

Mr. Tsvangirai, who faces a possible death sentence, -- has strongly denied the allegation. The opposition leader's deputy, Welshman Ncube, was charged in connection with the alleged plot earlier this month. 

Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions is beginning a three-day strike to protest government treatment of opposition supporters. Observers in Harare report the strike had started slowly, with civil services functioning normally, but activity in the city has been noticeably reduced. 

The government had declared the strike call illegal. 

On Tuesday, a special Commonwealth task force suspended Zimbabwe from the organization for one year. The 54-member group deemed this month's presidential election to be neither free nor fair. 

Some information for this report provided by AFP and AP.

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