Controversial Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has been the first to congratulate arch-rival Morgan Tsvangirai after his acquittal from treason charges.
"There's no hard feelings on my part, despite the fact he tried to kill me," said a smiling Mugabe outside the courtroom. "I've shaken his hand, told him we should let bygones be bygones and forgotten all about this most unfortunate incident."
Mr Tsvangirai was accused of plotting to kill President Mugabe after being secretly filmed walking into a Canadian hotel room with a dodgy looking briefcase. The prosecution alleged he avoided being picked up by the low quality microphones by speaking in such a low conspiratorial whisper that he obviously had something to hide.
One pro-Tsvangirai supporter refused to speak to journalists, claiming that at that precise moment in time he was being bludgeoned to death by around 200 truncheon-wielding riot police. However this was discounted by supporters of the President.
"I saw it all as clear as daylight, the pro-Tsvangirai Brit-loving scum waded into the police with his fists and gave them no option but to defend themselves," said a presidential spokesman. "God protect them in their glorious work. Long live the president."
Mr Tsvangirai and Judge Paddington Garwe, who delivered the verdict, were both unavailable for comment. Both men were seen being shepherded into a black Ziguli by what appeared to be their personal bodyguards. The car then drove away at high speed.
Mr Tsvangirai became world-famous in 2002 when he became the first ever candidate for a national presidential election to record no votes whatsoever. In what has been described as a monumental mix-up, supporters of his Movement for Democratic Change party contrived to forget who they were supposed to vote for and marked their cards in Mugabe's favour instead.
Zimbabwe has prided itself on being one of the most enlightened African dictatorships since it broke free of the tyrannous British empire in the 1970s. Mugabe, 179, has become famous for setting up a string of prestigious holiday camps for young Zimbabweans who learn traditional arts and crafts such as electric cattle prod torture and garotting political dissidents.
Mugabe has also impressed economists with his fiscal policies which have kept annual inflation down to a respectable 300%.
