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US: 2007 worst year yet for human rights in Zimbabwe
Reuters
March 11, 2008

http://africa.reuters.com/wire/news/usnN11590972.html

Washington - Last year was the worst ever for human rights in Zimbabwe, where President Robert Mugabe's government stepped up its assault on dissenters as well as ordinary citizens, the U.S. State Department said on Tuesday.

Over 8,000 instances of human rights abuse were recorded in Zimbabwe and at least 1,600 unlawful arrests and detentions, the annual U.S. report on human rights around the world said. "The year 2007 was the worst year yet for human rights defenders in Zimbabwe," it said.

"Security forces harassed, beat and arbitrarily arrested opposition supporters and critics within human rights NGOs (non-governmental organizations), the media and organized labor, as well as ordinary citizens," the document said.

Human rights groups reported more physical and psychological torture by security agents and government supporters.

"Victims reported beatings with whips and cables, suspension and electric shock," the State Department said.

It said the abuses increased despite efforts by regional leaders to resolve the ongoing crisis in Zimbabwe, where Mugabe, 83, has blamed a ruined economy on sabotage by political opponents. He has been in power since independence from Britain in 1980.

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