Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
Voice of America is funded by the US Federal Government and content it
exclusively produces is in the public domain.
March 17, 2007

AU Urges Zimbabwe to Observe Basic Human Rights
-----------------------------------------------

http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=16AFD9E:A6F02AD83191E1601ABC22452BC77F0F9574F7DCC14957C0 Several opposition
leaders say they were brutally beaten, including MDC party head Morgan
Tsvangirai





Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai is seen in bed at a
local hospital in Harare, 14 Mar. 2007The African Union is calling on
Zimbabwe to show respect for human rights in the aftermath of the
alleged beating of opposition members by government authorities. 

A statement released Saturday says AU chairman Alpha Oumar Konare
recognizes the need for "scrupulous respect for human rights and
democratic principles" in the southern African nation.

Zimbabwe's latest political crisis began last Sunday when police broke
up a gathering of the main opposition party MDC in the capital,
Harare.  Several opposition leaders say they were brutally beaten,
including MDC party head Morgan Tsvangirai. 

He was released from a hospital in Harare Friday after treatment for
head injuries.

Tsvangirai has vowed to continue fighting against the government of
President Robert Mugabe until democratic change comes to Zimbabwe. 

Officials in Britain, Australia and the United States are calling for
increased sanctions in response to the crackdown, and have threatened
to take the issue before the United Nations Human Rights Council. 
London is also pressing the U.N. Security Council to discuss the
situation in Zimbabwe.  However, South Africa, which holds the Council
presidency, opposed the move.

Mr. Mugabe has defended the crackdown, saying Thursday his critics can
"go hang."  He said his government was trying to prevent violence and
punish its perpetrators.

Zimbabwe's citizens are already coping with an economic crisis marked
by food shortages and 1,700 percent inflation.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.


.