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Defiant Tsvangirai to 'fight on' | Defiant Tsvangirai to 'fight on' |
(about 10 hours later) | |
Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has pledged to continue his "struggle" after he and other activists were beaten while in police custody. | Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has pledged to continue his "struggle" after he and other activists were beaten while in police custody. |
Mr Tsvangirai and 12 of his supporters have been treated in hospital after what he called a "sadistic attack". | |
The activists were arrested on Sunday when police broke up a rally in Harare which the authorities had banned. | The activists were arrested on Sunday when police broke up a rally in Harare which the authorities had banned. |
They have all now been released from police custody, their lawyer said, but are due back in court later. | |
Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi told the state-run Herald newspaper that the law would be enforced "to its fullest". | Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi told the state-run Herald newspaper that the law would be enforced "to its fullest". |
Mr Tsvangirai - who heads the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) - was among 50 opposition activists who appeared in a Harare court on Tuesday, following two days in police detention. | Mr Tsvangirai - who heads the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) - was among 50 opposition activists who appeared in a Harare court on Tuesday, following two days in police detention. |
As he and others were led away from the Harare court, he condemned their treatment by police. | As he and others were led away from the Harare court, he condemned their treatment by police. |
It was the most vicious assault I have ever witnessed Tendai BitiMDC spokesman Tendai Biti interview Eyewitness: Brutal clash Send us your comments | It was the most vicious assault I have ever witnessed Tendai BitiMDC spokesman Tendai Biti interview Eyewitness: Brutal clash Send us your comments |
"The police assaulted defenceless civilians but the struggle continues," Mr Tsvangirai said. | "The police assaulted defenceless civilians but the struggle continues," Mr Tsvangirai said. |
Speaking to the BBC from a hospital, MDC official Tendai Biti described how he and his colleagues were beaten up. | Speaking to the BBC from a hospital, MDC official Tendai Biti described how he and his colleagues were beaten up. |
"I can hardly walk. They were hitting me on the buttocks and on my legs, the fibula. I was assaulted while I was lying prostrate. | "I can hardly walk. They were hitting me on the buttocks and on my legs, the fibula. I was assaulted while I was lying prostrate. |
"There were others who were assaulted while standing and in the process tried to defend themselves, which is why we've got so many people with fractures of the hand." | "There were others who were assaulted while standing and in the process tried to defend themselves, which is why we've got so many people with fractures of the hand." |
Mr Biti said it was "the most vicious assault" he had ever witnessed, adding that Mr Tsvangirai was in "a very bad condition". | Mr Biti said it was "the most vicious assault" he had ever witnessed, adding that Mr Tsvangirai was in "a very bad condition". |
"I saw him being assaulted. There was a time when for 15 minutes they were assaulting him with their baton sticks non-stop. He must have passed out at least three times," he said. | "I saw him being assaulted. There was a time when for 15 minutes they were assaulting him with their baton sticks non-stop. He must have passed out at least three times," he said. |
Twelve of the 50 suspects were allowed to stay in hospital overnight for treatment, among them Mr Tsvangirai. | |
The others were released into the charge of their lawyers until Wednesday morning, when they are due to appear in court again. | |
The men are expected to be charged with incitement to violence. They tried to hold what they described as a prayer meeting in Harare on Sunday. | The men are expected to be charged with incitement to violence. They tried to hold what they described as a prayer meeting in Harare on Sunday. |
'Ruthless' regime | 'Ruthless' regime |
In a rare criticism of its neighbour, South Africa urged Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe to respect the rights of citizens, including opposition leaders. | In a rare criticism of its neighbour, South Africa urged Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe to respect the rights of citizens, including opposition leaders. |
The action against Sunday's demonstration was strongly condemned by the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, as well as the US and European Union. | The action against Sunday's demonstration was strongly condemned by the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, as well as the US and European Union. |
TSVANGIRAI'S LEGAL TROUBLES 2003: Charged with treason - later dropped2002: Lost election to Mugabe, charged with treason - later dropped2000: Charged with treason - later dropped2000: MDC won 57 parliamentary seats1999: Helped form MDC Media anger over crackdown Q&A: Zimbabwe meltdown | TSVANGIRAI'S LEGAL TROUBLES 2003: Charged with treason - later dropped2002: Lost election to Mugabe, charged with treason - later dropped2000: Charged with treason - later dropped2000: MDC won 57 parliamentary seats1999: Helped form MDC Media anger over crackdown Q&A: Zimbabwe meltdown |
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called for Mr Tsvangirai's immediate release. | US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called for Mr Tsvangirai's immediate release. |
"The world community again has been shown that the regime of Robert Mugabe is ruthless and repressive and creates only suffering for the people of Zimbabwe," she said. | "The world community again has been shown that the regime of Robert Mugabe is ruthless and repressive and creates only suffering for the people of Zimbabwe," she said. |
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour urged Zimbabwe to conduct an "immediate, impartial and comprehensive investigation" into what happened. | UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour urged Zimbabwe to conduct an "immediate, impartial and comprehensive investigation" into what happened. |
However, few of Zimbabwe's neighbours have condemned its policies. | However, few of Zimbabwe's neighbours have condemned its policies. |
President Levy Mwanawasa of neighbouring Zambia voiced his concern about the situation, but said problems in Zimbabwe were for its own people to solve. | President Levy Mwanawasa of neighbouring Zambia voiced his concern about the situation, but said problems in Zimbabwe were for its own people to solve. |
Zimbabwe's Information Minister, Sikhanyiso Ndlovu, told the BBC that the police officers' action was justified as they were under attack by opposition activists. | Zimbabwe's Information Minister, Sikhanyiso Ndlovu, told the BBC that the police officers' action was justified as they were under attack by opposition activists. |
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. |
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. | 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. |
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