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| Mugabe tells critics to 'go hang' | Mugabe tells critics to 'go hang' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Zimbabwean leader Robert Mugabe has said Western critics of his rule can "go hang", in response to accusations of mistreatment of opposition leaders. | Zimbabwean leader Robert Mugabe has said Western critics of his rule can "go hang", in response to accusations of mistreatment of opposition leaders. |
| Mr Mugabe said the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) had triggered violence which led to arrests and alleged beatings of its leaders. | |
| Western countries are considering extending sanctions against Zimbabwean officials in response to the violence. | Western countries are considering extending sanctions against Zimbabwean officials in response to the violence. |
| MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai is still in hospital. | |
| Mr Tsvangirai was arrested together with colleagues after a rally on Sunday. He later appeared in court with a fractured skull. | |
| However, doctors say he is now out of danger and has suffered no permanent brain or scalp damage. | |
| Meanwhile, police blamed the MDC for what they said was a firebomb attack on a Harare police station which left two policewomen in hospital with serious facial injuries. | |
| They said the violence would be met by "necessary force to ensure peace and stability is maintained". | |
| Diplomatic initiative | |
| Speaking after a meeting with Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete, Mr Mugabe said there had been no Western criticism of the MDC, which had instigated the violence. | |
| "When they criticise the government when it tries to prevent violence and punish perpetrators of that violence we take the position that they can go hang," he said. | |
| Mr Kikwete, who has a reputation as a peacemaker, flew to Harare on Thursday for an unscheduled visit. | |
| Tanzania, traditionally a close ally of Mr Mugabe, is one of three nations appointed by the regional bloc, the Southern African Development Community, to seek an end to the political crisis in Zimbabwe. |