Mugabe at Zanu-PF rally, opposition leader Tsvangirai gives presser

(1 Apr 2007) Harare, 30 April 2007 1. Wide of crowd clapping hands 2. Close up of clapping 3. Wide of venue 4. Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe's supporter holds banner: "Mugabe is right" 5. Wide of crowd 6. Set up of Mugabe 7. SOUNDBITE: (Shona) Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwean president: "I told them at the SADC (South African Development Community) meeting that yes Morgan was beaten, severely beaten by the police. I told them the truth that he went to the police station and asked for it." 8. Mugabe supporter holds banner: CNN, cable nonsense network Harare, April 31 2007 9. Wide of news conference at Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) headquarters 10. Mid shot of Morgan Tsvangirai 11. Close up of morgan 12. SOUNDBITE: (English) Morgan Tsvangirai, Movement for Democratic Change President: "The MDC welcomes the decision by SADC heads of states in their meeting in Tanzania in an extraordinary session in a point from (South African) President (Thabo) Mbeki as a point personal to Zimbabwe to facilitate a fresh dialogue initiative." 13. Reporters 14. SOUNDBITE: (English) Morgan Tsvangirai, Movement for Democratic Change President: "Quite clearly such a dialogue cannot take place in the present context of thuggery and violence against the opposition. Indeed it is imperative that President Mugabe creates conditions permissive to this dialogue by immediately ceasing actions of torture and attacks against MDC and its partners." 15. Journalists 16. MDC supporters wearing T shirt in Chitungwiza township reading: "Give Them The Red Card" 17. Woman in MDC T-shirt 18. Wide of people singing 19. Close up of people singing 20. Man with scars on the back from police beatings 21. SOUNDBITE: (English) No name available, MDC supporter, Vox Pop: "This is brutality, this is being done by these thugs." 22. Close up of women signing 23. Wide of women singing 24. MDC supporter chanting slogans 25. Woman listening 26. Wide of crowd STORYLINE: Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe struck a defiant tone when addressing supporters on Saturday in the midst of growing international concern for the southern African state. On Friday, Zimbabwe's ruling party had endorsed Mugabe as its candidate in next year's presidential elections. ZANU-PF had also shrugged off international criticism of the clampdown on opposition activists and papering over internal divisions about the country's economic meltdown. "I told them at the SADC (South African Development Community) meeting that yes Morgan was beaten, severely beaten by the police," Mugabe said, referring to the opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai. "I told them the truth that he went to the police station and asked for it," Mugabe added. The summit meeting of the Southern Africa Development Community appointed the South African president, Thabo Mbeki, to the task of promoting dialogue between Zimbabwe's political groups. "The MDC welcomes the decision by SADC," the Movement for Democratic Change party's leader said on Sunday. "Quite clearly such a dialogue cannot take place in the present context of thuggery and violence against the opposition," Morgan Tsvangirai added. On Friday, Mugabe acknowledged that police used violent methods against Tsvangirai and other opposition supporters and killed at least one activist last month. Referring to injuries suffered by at least 40 others in custody, Mugabe warned perpetrators of unrest they would be "bashed" again if violence continued. Mugabe, aged 83, is under growing pressure to step down as leader of the country he has ruled since independence in 1980. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...