BRUISED TSVANGIRAI BEFORE COURT !
Morgan Tsvangirai was said to have been badly beaten. Zimbabwe's opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has appeared in court with severe cuts and bruises to his head following two days in police detention.
He was in court in the capital Harare alongside about 50 other activists, many of them bandaged.
They were badly beaten in custody after being detained at a banned opposition rally on Sunday, supporters said.
One person was shot dead as riot police broke up the meeting, called to discuss the political and economic crisis.
One of us was killed. They shot my friend Gift Tandare dead
MDC activist
Eyewitness: Brutal clash
He was in court in the capital Harare alongside about 50 other activists, many of them bandaged.
They were badly beaten in custody after being detained at a banned opposition rally on Sunday, supporters said.
One person was shot dead as riot police broke up the meeting, called to discuss the political and economic crisis.
One of us was killed. They shot my friend Gift Tandare dead
MDC activist
Eyewitness: Brutal clash
Mr Tsvangirai, who heads the Movement for Democratic Change, was taken to court in the back of a large open police truck with at least 20 other opposition activists, AFP news agency reported.
He had a large gash which appeared to have been stitched, witnesses said.
He stood next to Arthur Mutambara, the leader of a rival MDC faction, while many of the activists sang and chanted.
The court adjourned for lunch with the group still sitting inside, AFP news agency reported.
'Brutal' crackdown
The police action against Sunday's meeting in Harare, which was called to discuss Zimbabwe's political and economic predicament, has been strongly condemned by United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, and by the United States and European Union.
He had a large gash which appeared to have been stitched, witnesses said.
He stood next to Arthur Mutambara, the leader of a rival MDC faction, while many of the activists sang and chanted.
The court adjourned for lunch with the group still sitting inside, AFP news agency reported.
'Brutal' crackdown
The police action against Sunday's meeting in Harare, which was called to discuss Zimbabwe's political and economic predicament, has been strongly condemned by United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, and by the United States and European Union.
TSVANGIRAI'S LEGAL TROUBLES
2003: Charged with treason - later dropped
2002: Lost election to Mugabe, charged with treason - later dropped
2000: Charged with treason - later dropped
2000: MDC won 57 parliamentary seats
1999: Helped form MDC
Mr Ban's spokeswoman said the arrests "violate the basic democratic right of citizens to engage in peaceful assembly".
The US called the crackdown "brutal and unwarranted" and called for the activists to be released.
"We hold President Robert Mugabe and the government of Zimbabwe accountable for the safety and well-being of those in custody," White House spokesman Sean McCormack said.
However, few of Zimbabwe's neighbours have condemned its policies.
A South African foreign ministry spokesman said: "We have constantly maintained that the solutions to the problems of Zimbabwe will be resolved by the people of Zimbabwe."
MDC politician Roy Bennett, who is now living in exile in South Africa, regretted that stance.
"It is very sad that our neighbours continue to keep quiet about the brutal situation," he said.
'Beating police'
Zimbabwe's Information Minister Sikhanyiso Ndlovu said the police's action was justified as they were attacked by opposition activists.
"The opposition has been involved in violence, caught by police with weapons of destruction and destroying cars and stores and beating up people," he told the BBC's Network Africa programme.
"They've been beating up police you know. That is what government cannot tolerate."
The government said the rally breached a ban on political gatherings imposed after violence at a demonstration last month.
Civil discontent in Zimbabwe is rising over the country's economic crisis, with chronic unemployment and inflation running at more than 1,700% - the highest in the world.
BBC NEWS REPORT.
The US called the crackdown "brutal and unwarranted" and called for the activists to be released.
"We hold President Robert Mugabe and the government of Zimbabwe accountable for the safety and well-being of those in custody," White House spokesman Sean McCormack said.
However, few of Zimbabwe's neighbours have condemned its policies.
A South African foreign ministry spokesman said: "We have constantly maintained that the solutions to the problems of Zimbabwe will be resolved by the people of Zimbabwe."
MDC politician Roy Bennett, who is now living in exile in South Africa, regretted that stance.
"It is very sad that our neighbours continue to keep quiet about the brutal situation," he said.
'Beating police'
Zimbabwe's Information Minister Sikhanyiso Ndlovu said the police's action was justified as they were attacked by opposition activists.
"The opposition has been involved in violence, caught by police with weapons of destruction and destroying cars and stores and beating up people," he told the BBC's Network Africa programme.
"They've been beating up police you know. That is what government cannot tolerate."
The government said the rally breached a ban on political gatherings imposed after violence at a demonstration last month.
Civil discontent in Zimbabwe is rising over the country's economic crisis, with chronic unemployment and inflation running at more than 1,700% - the highest in the world.
posted by jackaranda at 1:10 pm
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