Zimbabwe opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai left court for hospital today with a deep head wound as world outrage grew over the government's violent crackdown on political protests.
Mr Tsvangirai, who leads the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), said he had suffered "terrible" treatment in police custody following his arrest on Sunday for attempting to attend an opposition prayer rally.
"It was sadistic to attack defenceless people," the former trade unionist said outside the Harare court.
Mr Tsvangirai's head was shaved where a gash had been treated, he also had a swollen eye and was limping.
He was brought to court on along with around 50 other detainees, several of whom had to be carried into the courthouse. One wore a bloodstained shirt.
It was ordered that Mr Tsvangirai should be taken to hospital and he was bundled into a minibus by riot police, while the others went by ambulance.
Rights groups say the detainees were tortured after their arrest at a banned prayer meeting organised by a coalition of opposition, church and civic groups.
One man was shot dead when riot squads moved in to crush the rally. It was the second time in a month police had battled opposition youths in the capital.
Louise Arbour, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, expressed concern over "shocking" reports of police abuse.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice added her voice to the international condemnation of the crackdown, saying Washington held President Robert Mugabe personally responsible for Mr Tsvangirai's safety.
"The world community has again been shown that the regime of Robert Mugabe is ruthless and repressive and creates only suffering for the people of Zimbabwe," Ms Rice said in a statement.
South Africa, Zimbabwe's powerful neighbour to the south, also took the rare step of commenting, calling on Mr Mugabe's government to respect the rule of law and the rights of all people, including opposition leaders.
A spokesman for Mr Mugabe's ruling ZANU-PF party said Mr Tsvangirai had been intent on getting arrested to win more Western support.
Mr Mugabe (83), once one of Africa's liberation heroes, frequently blames the country's economic plight on former colonial master Britain and other Western nations.
Despite an economic crisis that has driven inflation to 1,700 per cent and 80 per cent unemployment, he has declared an interest in standing for a new term as president if elections go ahead next year.
Agencies