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Zimbabwe court seeks Tsvangirai Tsvangirai due in Zimbabwe court
(about 10 hours later)
Zimbabwe's High Court has ordered that detained opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai should be brought to court on Tuesday or released. Zimbabwe's High Court has ordered that arrested opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai either be delivered to court by lunchtime or released.
Mr Tsvangirai was arrested on Sunday when riot police broke up a public meeting in the capital, Harare. Supporters say Mr Tsvangirai and others arrested at a public meeting on Sunday have been badly beaten.
It is alleged that Mr Tsvangirai was badly beaten while in custody. Lawyers say police have already defied a court order granting access to the activists, and are waiting to see if they are brought to court.
His lawyer said he had not seen his client despite a court order granting him access, and there was no sign Mr Tsvangirai had received medical care. There has also been no word on another opposition leader, Arthur Mutambara.
Mr Tsvangirai, who leads the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), was detained along with other opposition members as police broke up Sunday's rally. Mr Tsvangirai, who leads the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), was detained along with other opposition members as riot police broke up Sunday's rally in the capital Harare.
MORGAN TSVANGIRAI 1952: Born in Gutu, central ZimbabweLeft school early to seek work1974: Started working in a mine1988: Secretary General on the ZCTU1997: Organised anti-government strikes1999: Helped form MDC2000: MDC won 57 parliamentary seats2000: Charged with treason - later dropped2002: Lost elections to Mugabe, charged with treason - later dropped2003: Charged with treason - later dropped Q&A: Zimbabwe meltdown Tsvangirai profile Have Your SayMORGAN TSVANGIRAI 1952: Born in Gutu, central ZimbabweLeft school early to seek work1974: Started working in a mine1988: Secretary General on the ZCTU1997: Organised anti-government strikes1999: Helped form MDC2000: MDC won 57 parliamentary seats2000: Charged with treason - later dropped2002: Lost elections to Mugabe, charged with treason - later dropped2003: Charged with treason - later dropped Q&A: Zimbabwe meltdown Tsvangirai profile Have Your Say
One activist was reportedly shot dead. One activist was shot dead.
Lawyers representing Mr Tsvangirai and the other detainees went to the High Court on Monday, demanding access to their clients. A high court judge ordered that those arrested should be taken for immediate medical treatment.
A judge ordered that they should be taken for immediate medical treatment if necessary and be brought to court by Tuesday morning. Mr Tsvangirai's lawyer, Selby Hwacha, told the BBC his staff had visited a number of police stations in Harare on Monday but had been turned away.
If the authorities failed to comply with this order, the men should be released, the judge ruled. He said he believed Mr Tsvangirai had been badly beaten in custody and there was no indication he had been granted medical treatment.
Mr Tsvangirai's lawyer, Selby Hwacha, told the BBC his staff had visited a number of police stations in Harare on Monday but had been turned away - despite the ruling in their favour.
He said he believed Mr Tsvangirai had been badly beaten whilst in custody and there was no indication he had been granted medical treatment.
"It's quite clear now that he was beaten up, and reports reaching us are that he was beaten up very badly. I received information which stated his head was cracked," he said."It's quite clear now that he was beaten up, and reports reaching us are that he was beaten up very badly. I received information which stated his head was cracked," he said.
Rising discontentRising discontent
The US condemned the "brutal and unwarranted" crackdown and called for the release of those in custody who "peacefully gathered to exercise their legitimate democratic rights". United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon condemned the arrests, which his spokeswoman said "violate the basic democratic right of citizens to engage in peaceful assembly."
The US condemned the "brutal and unwarranted" crackdown and called for the activists to be released.
Zimbabwe officials said the opposition had attacked police"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.Zimbabwe officials said the opposition had attacked police"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, Zimbabwe's Information Minister Sikhanyiso Ndlovu told the BBC's Network Africa programme that the police had been attacked by opposition activists.However, Zimbabwe's Information Minister Sikhanyiso Ndlovu told the BBC's Network Africa programme that the police had been 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."The opposition has been involved in violence, caught by police with weapons of destruction and destroying cars and stores and beating up people.
"They've been beating up police you know. That is what government cannot tolerate.""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.The government said the rally breached a ban on political gatherings imposed after violence at a demonstration last month.
The BBC's Africa correspondent, Peter Biles, says the treatment the detainees are alleged to have received at the hands of the Zimbabwean police appears to represent an even more determined effort to crack down on any opposition to Robert Mugabe's government.The BBC's Africa correspondent, Peter Biles, says the treatment the detainees are alleged to have received at the hands of the Zimbabwean police appears to represent an even more determined effort to crack down on any opposition to Robert Mugabe's government.
Mr Mugabe, 83, who has led Zimbabwe since independence in 1980, retains a firm grip on power and recently said he had no intention of stepping down.Mr Mugabe, 83, who has led Zimbabwe since independence in 1980, retains a firm grip on power and recently said he had no intention of stepping down.
However civil discontent is rising over the country's economic crisis, with chronic unemployment and inflation running at more than 1,700% - the highest in the world.However civil discontent is rising over the country's economic crisis, with chronic unemployment and inflation running at more than 1,700% - the highest in the world.