Washington condemns government's "repression"

The United States has demanded that the Zimbabwean government end what it described as a campaign of "violent repression" against domestic opponents. US State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said on Monday that the government of President Robert Mugabe had "embarked on a massive retribution campaign against opposition officials, supporters, and other critics of the regime", in the last few days. "This wave of violence and intimidation follows last week's successful and largely peaceful two-day work stoppage organised by the main opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change [MDC]. Since then, over 400 opposition supporters have been arrested, beaten, and in some cases tortured by individuals in police and military uniform. Over 250 people have required hospitalisation and at least one person has died. Women have been sexually assaulted by police or military officers," Boucher said. "The upsurge in official violence is directly attributable to President Mugabe's speech last Friday in which he said he could be a 'black Hitler ten fold' in crushing his opponents," the statement added. Boucher said the violence was also linked to two by-elections this weekend in the pro-opposition Harare constituencies of Kuwadzana and Highfields. "The ruling party has made clear its intent to win at any cost and has used violence and manipulation of food stocks to intimidate voters," he alleged. "The United States demands that the Zimbabwe government immediately cease its campaign of violent repression. The Zimbabwe government must also act to identify and bring to justice the perpetrators of these serious and widespread human rights abuses," the statement said. IRIN was unable on Tuesday to get a response from Minister of State for Information in the Office of the President Jonathan Moyo, or permanent secretary George Charamba. Local and international human rights groups have condemned the government's crackdown following last week's stay-away called to protest government policies. The MDC on Thursday gave the government until 31 March to meet a list of 15 demands or "face popular mass action". The demands included an end to torture, the repeal of recent legislation restricting freedom of speech, movement and association, and the disbanding of militia groups.