A march by civil rights groups has been broken up by heavily armed riot police in Zimbabwe's capital, Harare.
Zimbabwean riot police armed with batons charged into a crowd of activists in Harare today at the start of nationwide protests against a constitution opponents say entrenches President Robert Mugabe's rule.
Hundreds of marchers ran through the streets of the capital, singing and chanting "Down with Mugabe" as they were chased by heavily armed police on foot and in trucks.
The National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) had vowed to press ahead with the protest despite a police ban on political demonstrations since Mr Mugabe's controversial re-election last month.
There were no immediate reports of any injuries. Three NCA officials were arrested yesterday and charged with organising an illegal demonstration. They could face up to a year in prison.
The NCA, a broad coalition of student and church groups, political parties and human rights groups, is demanding a new constitution to replace laws it says entrench the rule of Mr Mugabe, who was re-elected in the widely disputed March 9th to 11th elections.
Mr Mugabe has amended the constitution 16 times since leading the country to independence from Britain in 1980 in what are seen as attempts to tighten his grip on power.
Mr Mugabe's ruling ZANU-PF party says the election was free and fair and it rejects demands by the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) for a fresh poll.
Opposition leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai condemned the government's heavy-handed approach to demonstrations while allowing ZANU-PF militants to continue a reign of terror in the countryside.