A Zimbabwe court has ordered a probe into allegations that labour union leaders were tortured by police while in custody awaiting trail for attempting to protest against President Robert Mugabe's rule, says a report on the Mail & Guardian Online site.

Harare Magistrate William Bhila ordered an investigation into claims that leaders of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions were beaten up in police custody, and postponed their trial until October 17. Lawyer Alec Muchadehama had asked for postponement of the trial, saying some of his clients were still recovering from their injuries and were unable to follow proceedings. 'Other people are incapacitated, some have to be carried and be brought to court in ambulances,' he said. The ZCTU leaders were forced to abandon plans for a series of anti-government marches over the spiralling cost of living when police arrested them for breaching the stringent provisions of the Public Order and Security Act.
Full Mail & Guardian Online report