The Zimbabwe government said late yesterday it would appeal against a High Court ruling overturning the forced closure of the country's only independent daily newspaper, state television reported.

"We've been asked to appeal against this order," acting attorney general, Bharat Patel told the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC).

Earlier the High Court ruled that the Daily News - an outspoken paper frequently accused by the government of President Robert Mugabe of being biased in favour of the opposition - could resume publishing.

The paper was shut down by police last week after the Supreme Court, Zimbabwe's top court, ruled it was operating illegally because it had not registered with a government media commission.

Judge Yunis Omerjee said yesterday that the paper should be allowed to resume publishing since it had filed an application to register with the media commission earlier this week.

He also said equipment confiscated by the police should be returned.

Patel said he hoped the appeal would be filed later yesterday.

"If we can't get that achieved tonight we'll be hoping to do it first thing tomorrow (Friday) morning," Patel said. – Sapa-AFP.