The leader of Zimbabwe's main Opposition party and about 50 democracy activists — many of them bandaged and bruised — were taken to hospitals following a court appearance on Tuesday, two days after they were arrested and reportedly beaten for trying to attend a meeting. The activists were ferried to private hospitals in ambulances and other vehicles under police guard as their lawyers said the state intended to charge them with incitement to violence. | If they were the ones inciting violence how come they're the ones in the hospital? |
Mr. Tsvangirai was allegedly tortured after being arrested when police crushed the gathering on Sunday that was organised as a prayer meeting by a coalition of Opposition, church and civic groups under the ``Save Zimbabwe'' banner.
Many members of the group brought from jails to the magistrate's court Tuesday in the open bed of a large police truck arrived singing and chanting, but Mr. Tsvangirai was silent. Police presence was heavy. A crowd outside the court sang and waved the Opposition party's open hand salute as Mr. Tsvangirai and about six activists left the court. Mr. Tsvangirai did not respond but others in vehicle returned the salute. ``The right side of Morgan's face was swollen as was his eyes which were bloodshot but he seemed coherent. It was damn barbaric,'' said Britain's Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Andrew Pocock, who was in court.