Zimbabwe's main opposition party Monday accused government forces of a brutal attack on its arrested leader Morgan Tsvangirai and vowed to push on with a drive to topple President Robert Mugabe.

The alleged beating of the Movement for Democratic Change leader and other opposition officials, who were detained ahead of a planned anti-government protest, drew sharp condemnation from Mugabe's traditional foes in Britain and the United States, the
United Nations and part of South Africa's governing coalition.

UN chief Ban Ki-Moon called for the release of those rounded up ahead of the rally.

The Save Zimbabwe Campaign, the movement that organised Sunday's thwarted rally, insisted they would not be cowed by the crackdown and vowed to end the "tyranny" of a nation reeling under the impact of a 1,730 percent inflation rate and unemployment running at over 80 percent.

Thokozani Khupe, deputy leader of the MDC, struck a similarly defiant line as she claimed Tsvangirai's life had been left in danger by the beatings that he had received.

"As of now, president Tsvangirai is battling for his life at Borrowdale police station after he was brutally assaulted," she told reporters. Read More

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