World | Zimbabwe US Demands Zimbabwe Release Americans Journalists rounded up in apparent crackdown By Rob Quinn Posted Apr 4, 2008 3:24 AM CDT Copied Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe, centre, meets with head of the African Union Observer Mission members at Zimbabwe House in Harare, Thursday, April, 3, 2008. . (AP Photo) The US State Department is demanding the immediate release of Americans detained in Zimbabwe, CNN reports. Riot police entered a hotel yesterday and removed foreign reporters, including a New York Times correspondent now being held in a Harare jail. Another US citizen working for a democratic rights organization was also detained at the Harare airport, AP reports. The citizens were being held for no valid reason, said a US official. The round up of journalists and raids on opposition offices have raised fears that President Robert Mugabe is cracking down after an apparent election loss for his ruling party. A runoff election may be necessary but diplomats now fear Mugabe might declare a state of emergency first to crush opposition. “He’s lost the election, so he’s carrying out a coup,” said an official of the opposition party. Read These Next Gavin Newsom has filed a massive lawsuit against Fox News. White House rolls with Trump's 'daddy' nickname. New York Times ranks the best movies of the 21st century. New Fox star, 23, misses first day after car troubles. Report an error