Zimbabwe’s government faced strong international condemnation after police crushed a prayer demonstration and allegedly tortured the country’s most prominent opposition leader and killed a pro-democracy activist.

Top opposition leaders were assaulted and tortured by police who broke up a planned “Save Zimbabwe” prayer meeting in the capital, colleagues of the activists said today.

The leader of the main opposition party was detained by police who shot dead a protester as they broke up a “Save Zimbabwe” prayer meeting in the capital today.