Mugabe Opponents Released From Hospital

HARARE, Zimbabwe — Police released dozens of opposition activists to the custody of their attorneys late yesterday, while the country's main opposition leader was treated at a hospital for injuries his lawyer said were the result of savage police beatings.

The activists were ordered to return to court this morning after police took them from a hospital to the magistrates court here last night for an appearance, said Beatrice Mtetwa, a lawyer for the group. She said no state prosecutor or magistrate was at the court.

"The fact that there was no prosecutor, no magistrate, no court officials — only police — says a lot," she said. "It says that we are in a police state."