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| Tsvangirai leaves Harare hospital | Tsvangirai leaves Harare hospital |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Zimbabwe opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has left hospital in a wheelchair after allegedly being beaten in police custody on Sunday. | Zimbabwe opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has left hospital in a wheelchair after allegedly being beaten in police custody on Sunday. |
| He is expected to speak to journalists within the next few hours. | He is expected to speak to journalists within the next few hours. |
| In the UK, Foreign Office minister Lord David Triesman told the BBC Zimbabwe's government had committed "actions... bordering on crimes against humanity". | In the UK, Foreign Office minister Lord David Triesman told the BBC Zimbabwe's government had committed "actions... bordering on crimes against humanity". |
| President Robert Mugabe has said Western critics should "go hang" and blamed the violence on the opposition. | President Robert Mugabe has said Western critics should "go hang" and blamed the violence on the opposition. |
| Lord Triesman pointed to the government's suppression of Mr Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and the eviction of hundreds of thousands of people from urban areas in 2005. | Lord Triesman pointed to the government's suppression of Mr Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and the eviction of hundreds of thousands of people from urban areas in 2005. |
| He dismissed calls for military intervention in Zimbabwe but supported calls for those responsible for assaulting Mr Tsvangirai and some 50 other MDC activists to be identified and added to the list of those subject to an EU travel ban and assets freeze. | |
| 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 President Robert Mugabe class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/6456027.stm">Bloggers turn up heat class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=5740&edition=2&ttl=20070312114528">Send us your comments The US says it is also considering extending its sanctions on Zimbabwean officials. | |
| Mr Tsvangirai was arrested together with colleagues after police broke up a banned rally on Sunday. He appeared in court two days later with a badly bruised face and stitches in a head wound. | Mr Tsvangirai was arrested together with colleagues after police broke up a banned rally on Sunday. He appeared in court two days later with a badly bruised face and stitches in a head wound. |
| However, doctors deny reports that he suffered a fractured skull and say he has suffered no permanent brain or scalp damage. | However, doctors deny reports that he suffered a fractured skull and say he has suffered no permanent brain or scalp damage. |
| His spokesman, William Bango, said Mr Tsvangirai was still in pain. | His spokesman, William Bango, said Mr Tsvangirai was still in pain. |
| Four other MDC officials remain in hospital. | Four other MDC officials remain in hospital. |
| Diplomatic initiative | Diplomatic initiative |
| Speaking after a meeting with Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete, Mr Mugabe said there had been no Western criticism of the MDC, which he said had instigated the violence. | Speaking after a meeting with Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete, Mr Mugabe said there had been no Western criticism of the MDC, which he said had instigated the violence. |
| 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 href="/1/hi/in_pictures/6450403.stm">Protests in pictures | |
| "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. | "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. |
| On Thursday, 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. | On Thursday, 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. |
| A police spokesman blamed the attack on the "armed wing" of the MDC. | A police spokesman blamed the attack on the "armed wing" of the MDC. |
| He said the violence would be met by "necessary force to ensure peace and stability is maintained". | He said the violence would be met by "necessary force to ensure peace and stability is maintained". |
| Mr Kikwete, who has a reputation as a peacemaker, flew to Harare on Thursday for an unscheduled visit. | 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, has been appointed along with Namibia and Lesotho by the regional bloc, the Southern African Development Community, to seek an end to the political crisis in Zimbabwe. | Tanzania, traditionally a close ally of Mr Mugabe, has been appointed along with Namibia and Lesotho by the regional bloc, the Southern African Development Community, to seek an end to the political crisis in Zimbabwe. |
| But Mr Kikwete gave few details of the talks, saying that "we agreed on the way forward on a number of issues". | But Mr Kikwete gave few details of the talks, saying that "we agreed on the way forward on a number of issues". |
| More than 80% of Zimbabweans are living in poverty, with chronic unemployment and inflation running at more than 1,700% - the highest in the world. | More than 80% of Zimbabweans are living in poverty, with chronic unemployment and inflation running at more than 1,700% - the highest in the world. |