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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Unbowed Tsvangirai urges defiance | Unbowed Tsvangirai urges defiance |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai says the beating he received at the hands of police should be an "inspiration" for the struggle. | Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai says the beating he received at the hands of police should be an "inspiration" for the struggle. |
| Mr Tsvangirai was speaking from hospital as he received blood transfusions for internal bleeding and treatment for a fractured skull. | Mr Tsvangirai was speaking from hospital as he received blood transfusions for internal bleeding and treatment for a fractured skull. |
| He and 49 opposition activists were arrested at a rally on Sunday. | He and 49 opposition activists were arrested at a rally on Sunday. |
| Zimbabwe's information minister said the injuries had been inflicted when Mr Tsvangirai and others attacked police. | Zimbabwe's information minister said the injuries had been inflicted when Mr Tsvangirai and others attacked police. |
| Sikhanyiso Ndlovu told the BBC that police confiscated "killer" weapons from the activists, adding that four policemen were in hospital as a result of the attacks. | |
| The government said the rally breached a ban on political gatherings imposed after violence at a demonstration last month. | |
| 'Body blows' | |
| The activists appeared in court - many bandaged and bruised - but were all then released from police custody after prosecution lawyers apparently failed to appear. | The activists appeared in court - many bandaged and bruised - but were all then released from police custody after prosecution lawyers apparently failed to appear. |
| There is no freedom without struggle, and there is no freedom without sacrifice Morgan Tsvangirai Protests in pictures | |
| A number remained in hospital on Wednesday. | A number remained in hospital on Wednesday. |
| Mr Tsvangirai, who heads the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), said violence he and others endured at a police station was intended to inflict as much harm as possible. | Mr Tsvangirai, who heads the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), said violence he and others endured at a police station was intended to inflict as much harm as possible. |
| He said he suffered head injuries, for which he received six stitches, and took "body blows" to the arms, knees and back, and that he lost two pints (one litre) of blood. | He said he suffered head injuries, for which he received six stitches, and took "body blows" to the arms, knees and back, and that he lost two pints (one litre) of blood. |
| Correspondents say there were an astonishing number of broken arms among the activists' injuries, indicating a very high level of physical violence. | Correspondents say there were an astonishing number of broken arms among the activists' injuries, indicating a very high level of physical violence. |
| 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 |
| "There are lots of people who've been subjected to this kind of torture, this kind of brutality by this regime," Mr Tsvangirai said in an interview from his hospital bed. | "There are lots of people who've been subjected to this kind of torture, this kind of brutality by this regime," Mr Tsvangirai said in an interview from his hospital bed. |
| Mr Tsvangirai has been the figurehead for the movement opposing President Robert Mugabe. | Mr Tsvangirai has been the figurehead for the movement opposing President Robert Mugabe. |
| "It just shows the extent to which this desperate regime is trying to protect its power," he said. | "It just shows the extent to which this desperate regime is trying to protect its power," he said. |
| "For the struggle, I think it's an inspiration to everyone. There is no freedom without struggle, and there is no freedom without sacrifice." | "For the struggle, I think it's an inspiration to everyone. There is no freedom without struggle, and there is no freedom without sacrifice." |
| A witness told the BBC the activists turned on police after one of their number was shot dead, but Mr Tsvangirai denied attacking the police. | A witness told the BBC the activists turned on police after one of their number was shot dead, but Mr Tsvangirai denied attacking the police. |
| "If there were any skirmishes, it was nothing to do with me," he said. | "If there were any skirmishes, it was nothing to do with me," he said. |
| 'Ruthless and repressive' | 'Ruthless and repressive' |
| 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 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." | US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice 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." |
| UK Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said the attacks on the opposition were barbaric, and urged European governments to consider further sanctions against senior officials, which currently include a travel ban and freeze on their assets. | UK Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said the attacks on the opposition were barbaric, and urged European governments to consider further sanctions against senior officials, which currently include a travel ban and freeze on their assets. |
| The chairman of the African Union, Ghanaian President John Kufuor described the situation in Zimbabwe as very embarrassing. | |
| South Africa also criticised its neighbour, urging Mr Mugabe to respect the rights of citizens, including opposition leaders. | |
| BBC Africa editor Martin Plaut says that after years of fending off international pressure, Pretoria has adopted an entirely new tone. | |
| There is now intense international activity under way to persuade Mr Mugabe not to extend his presidency beyond next year, he says, and South Africa's change of attitude could be critical. | |
| 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. |