A spokesman for the Zimbabwe national police force Friday rebutted accusations by a number of human rights advocacy groups in Zimbabwe and the region that police in the country are responsible for abuses including political arrests and torture.

Observances of International Human Rights Day on Sunday, December 10, brought a number of reports from human rights groups critical of Zimbabwean authorities.

The Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum issued a report describing a long history of police violence from 2000 to the present. It said the Zmbabwe Republic Police was a leading offender and charged that the ZRP suppresses political opposition.

A report by the Solidarity Peace Trust and the Institute of Justice and Reconciliation said police have used brutality against opposition parties and civic groups.

ZRP Chief Superintendent Oliver Mandipaka rejected all the charges in an interview with reporter Ndimyake Mwakalyele of VOA's Studio 7 for Zimbabwe.

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