FEARS grew yesterday for the safety of Zimbabwe's main opposition leader after reports police had tortured or severely beaten him following his arrest at a protest meeting.

Australia joined international condemnation of Robert Mugabe's government after police crushed a prayer demonstration and allegedly severely beat Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change.

Mr Tsvangirai fainted three times after being beaten by police, according to the organisers of the "Save Zimbabwe" campaign, an alliance of opposition, civic, church leaders and student and anti-government groups.
Lawyers for Mr Tsvangirai filed an urgent court order to allow them immediate access to -- and immediate medical treatment for -- detainees.

The court papers said that Mr Tsvangirai should either be charged or released by today, within the usual 48 hours.

Police have routinely ignored such court orders.

Mr Tsvangirai and dozens of other pro-democracy demonstrators were arrested on Sunday when police broke up the meeting. One activist was killed.

The MDC said Mrs Tsvangirai was allowed to see him Monday in jail and reported the wounds.

"This is not consistent with the normal police brutality we have witnessed. The injuries were deliberate and an attempt to assassinate him," said opposition official Eliphas Mukonoweshure.

Lawyers were still reportedly being denied access to Mr Tsvangirai.

The Save Zimbabwe Campaign also said another opposition leader, Lovemore Madhuku, was taken to a Harare hospital early yesterday after collapsing from police assaults. He was reportedly in serious condition.

At least four other opposition and civic leaders were beaten and tortured in custody, the campaign said.

Mugabe opponents blame him for acute food shortages, record inflation of some 1600 per cent -- the world's highest -- and repression and corruption.

A US State Department spokesman condemned the police response to the protest and said the United States was shocked by reports of injuries suffered by opposition leaders.

The attacks "were an indication of the repressive nature of the Mugabe dictatorship," said the spokesman, Tom Casey.

Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer said the rally suppression was further evidence of the regime's utter disregard for basic democratic principles and human rights.

"They are clear signs of the Mugabe Government's desperation to cling to power in the face of its growing unpopularity amongst the people of Zimbabwe," he said.

news.com.au

Mugabwe is another face of evil in a long list of dictators!