The so-called war veterans were intimidating the youths into their camp by determining that any resisters must be followers of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and legitimate targets.

"Those who refuse to commit violence are assaulted and accused of being MDC supporters by the war veterans'," said Simeon Mawanza, Amnesty International's Zimbabwe researcher, describing violence has having reached crisis levels.

Violence has escalated since the March 29 election which saw the MDC gaining a historic win in parliament and MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai beating Mugabe but falling short of an outright majority.

The London-based rights group said eyewitnesses reported large numbers of Zanu-PF supporters and war veterans assaulting perceived MDC supporters.

"We are particularly worried about people living in more remote rural areas, where violence is taking place away from the spotlight," said Mawanza.

"The situation for these victims of violence is dire.

Humanitarian organisations and local non-governmental organisations are being targeted for helping victims, who are being blocked from receiving medical assistance."

Zimbabwean doctors, trade unions and teachers have reported beatings and intimidation by government-backed militias since the elections on March 29 and the MDC says more than 30 of its supporters have been killed.

Amnesty - which has recorded 22 deaths and over 900 injured from political violence - said it feared for the safety of abducted MDC supporters.

In a statement the human rights body called on the Zimbabwean government to publicly denounce all acts of violence and work with other political parties to end political violence immediately.

Speaking to reporters in Johannesburg, South Africa, Tendai Biti, MDC Secretary General, said violence was intensifying and now affecting "some of the key pillars of our structure".

His party said in a statement yesterday that 33 of its supporters and activists had been killed in post-election violence.

Biti called on the Southern African Development Community to hold an emergency summit to address the opposition's call for a runoff by May 23 and for the regional organisation to guarantee security, fairness and freedom of the vote.

Nampa-AFP-AP

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