This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/6463653.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Zimbabwe stops activists leaving | Zimbabwe stops activists leaving |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Four leading Zimbabwean opposition members have been prevented from going abroad and one of them was attacked at the airport, the opposition says. | Four leading Zimbabwean opposition members have been prevented from going abroad and one of them was attacked at the airport, the opposition says. |
| MP Nelson Chamisa said he had been beaten as he tried to leave for Brussels on Sunday to attend a meeting. | |
| Grace Kwinje and Sekai Holland had planned to seek treatment in South Africa for injuries sustained in police custody, their lawyer said. | Grace Kwinje and Sekai Holland had planned to seek treatment in South Africa for injuries sustained in police custody, their lawyer said. |
| And Arthur Mutambara was re-arrested as he was about to leave the country. | And Arthur Mutambara was re-arrested as he was about to leave the country. |
| Earlier, the African Union urged Harare to respect human rights in the country. | Earlier, the African Union urged Harare to respect human rights in the country. |
| There is no security. There is no protection. All of us are at risk Nelson ChamisaMDC spokesman | There is no security. There is no protection. All of us are at risk Nelson ChamisaMDC spokesman |
| In a statement, the pan-African body also called for a "constructive dialogue" to resolve Zimbabwe's deepening crisis. | In a statement, the pan-African body also called for a "constructive dialogue" to resolve Zimbabwe's deepening crisis. |
| Western criticism of Robert Mugabe's government intensified after Morgan Tsvangirai, the leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), was beaten after last Sunday's rally in Harare. | Western criticism of Robert Mugabe's government intensified after Morgan Tsvangirai, the leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), was beaten after last Sunday's rally in Harare. |
| 'Arbitrary act' | 'Arbitrary act' |
| Mr Chamisa, an MDC spokesman, had been on his way to attend an Africa Caribbean Pacific-EU meeting in Belgium. | Mr Chamisa, an MDC spokesman, had been on his way to attend an Africa Caribbean Pacific-EU meeting in Belgium. |
| He said he had been approached by unidentified men as he got out of his car outside the departures' hall at Harare Airport. | He said he had been approached by unidentified men as he got out of his car outside the departures' hall at Harare Airport. |
| "I was suddenly surrounded by, I think, about eight men," he said later. | "I was suddenly surrounded by, I think, about eight men," he said later. |
| "One wore a green t-shirt. The other ones had suits. Then I was hit, I think about three times... Then I fell to the ground." | "One wore a green t-shirt. The other ones had suits. Then I was hit, I think about three times... Then I fell to the ground." |
| Mr Chamisa said he had seen his attackers running off towards two vehicles without registration plates. | Mr Chamisa said he had seen his attackers running off towards two vehicles without registration plates. |
| Things were bad, things are bad, but I think this crisis has reached the tipping point and we could be seeing the beginning of the end of this dictatorship Morgan Tsvangirai, MDC leader 'Zimbabwe is still working' | Things were bad, things are bad, but I think this crisis has reached the tipping point and we could be seeing the beginning of the end of this dictatorship Morgan Tsvangirai, MDC leader 'Zimbabwe is still working' |
| "Some women they came to me and started to help me. With a handkerchief. They were trying to stop the blood. It was really coming out," he said. | "Some women they came to me and started to help me. With a handkerchief. They were trying to stop the blood. It was really coming out," he said. |
| He has now been admitted to hospital in Harare where his doctor says he has a fractured skull. | He has now been admitted to hospital in Harare where his doctor says he has a fractured skull. |
| "There is no security. There is no protection. All of us are at risk," Mr Chamisa said. | "There is no security. There is no protection. All of us are at risk," Mr Chamisa said. |
| Arthur Mutambara, leader of one of the factions of the MDC, was re-arrested on Saturday, and is now being held at Harare central police station. | Arthur Mutambara, leader of one of the factions of the MDC, was re-arrested on Saturday, and is now being held at Harare central police station. |
| Ms Holland and Ms Kwinje tried to go to South Africa to receive specialist treatment on Saturday evening, Tafadzwa Mugabe, a lawyer who accompanied them, told the BBC's World Today programme. | Ms Holland and Ms Kwinje tried to go to South Africa to receive specialist treatment on Saturday evening, Tafadzwa Mugabe, a lawyer who accompanied them, told the BBC's World Today programme. |
| They were among a number of activists beaten while in police custody after being arrested last week. | They were among a number of activists beaten while in police custody after being arrested last week. |
| Tafadzwa Mugabe said all their papers were in order but - just before boarding the flight - the authorities said the two women needed an additional "clearance letter from the ministry of health". | Tafadzwa Mugabe said all their papers were in order but - just before boarding the flight - the authorities said the two women needed an additional "clearance letter from the ministry of health". |
| "This was just an arbitrary act," the lawyer said, adding that they would be taking legal action. | "This was just an arbitrary act," the lawyer said, adding that they would be taking legal action. |
| He said that the condition of the two women activists remained critical. | He said that the condition of the two women activists remained critical. |
| 'Tipping point' | 'Tipping point' |
| MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai has told the BBC's Sunday AM programme that the situation has reached a critical stage. | MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai has told the BBC's Sunday AM programme that the situation has reached a critical stage. |
| "Well I think that this is a tipping point," he said. | "Well I think that this is a tipping point," he said. |
| "Things were bad, things are bad, but I think this crisis has reached the tipping point and we could be seeing the beginning of the end of this dictatorship." | "Things were bad, things are bad, but I think this crisis has reached the tipping point and we could be seeing the beginning of the end of this dictatorship." |
| President Mugabe has rejected Western criticism and blamed the opposition for instigating the violence. | President Mugabe has rejected Western criticism and blamed the opposition for instigating the violence. |
| Mr Mugabe has ruled Zimbabwe for 27 years, but there is increasing discontent over the country's economic crisis. | Mr Mugabe has ruled Zimbabwe for 27 years, but there is increasing discontent over the country's economic crisis. |