Labor leaders assaulted in Zimbabwe

[deadparrot]

HARARE, Zimbabwe - A lawyer for imprisoned labor leaders who tried to stage anti-government protests said Thursday police had acknowledged several needed medical attention after being assaulted during the thwarted demonstrations.

The country main labor federation, Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, had planned marches across the southern African country on Wednesday to protest economic policies it says have left most Zimbabweans in poverty. But police sealed off streets and prevented the protests, arresting more than 100 activists nationwide.

Attorney Alec Muchadehama said police promised to escort 16 labor activists held in one of the capital's harshest prisons to emergency facilities at the main state hospital in Harare.

Earlier, Muchadehama said the second-ranking official of the labor federation, Secretary General Wellington Chibebe, was in "very serious" condition with a broken arm and hand and cuts on his head. Lovemore Matombo, the head of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, suffered head wounds.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060915/ap_on_re_af/zimbabwe_protests