High court order Tsvangirai to have access to a lawyer, medical care

Last Updated: Monday, 12 March 2007, 19:37 GMT E-mail this to a friend Printable version

Tsvangirai lawyer access ordered

Mr Tsvangirai has previously been charged with treason Zimbabwe's high court judge has ordered police to allow lawyers access to opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, who was arrested at a rally on Sunday. The judge said Mr Tsvangirai should have immediate access to medical care after his lawyer said he was badly beaten by police in custody. The judge also said Mr Tsvangirai should be brought to his court on Tuesday morning or freed. Mr Tsvangirai leads Zimbabwe's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). He was arrested along with several colleagues after riot police broke up a public meeting in the capital, Harare. One activist was shot dead at the rally, described as a prayer meeting. As reports spread of the beatings, demonstrations erupted in Gweru, about 200km (124 miles) south of Harare, and hundreds were arrested in the eastern town of Mutare, say the BBC's Brian Hungwe.