Brussels, 20/03/2007 (Agence Europe) - In a declaration published on 18 March, the German EU presidency states it is “outraged and deeply concerned” by the brutal arrest of the opposition MP, Nelson Chamisa (MDC). Arrested on his way to Brussels where he was due to attend a meeting of ACP state and EU parliamentarians, Mr Chamisa is now lying in a critical condition in a Harare hospital under police guard, the Council presidency states. It very strongly condemns the new arrests and ill treatment inflicted by the police last week on Sekai Holland and Grace Kwinjeh, members of the MDC steering committee. It “calls on the Zimbabwean government to release all detained opposition politicians immediately, to enable them to have access to legal assistance and medical care, and to allow representatives of the EU presidency to visit the detainees”. It also appeals to the government to respect the rule of law and human rights and to refrain from doing anything which might lead to a further escalation of the situation in Zimbabwe. (ab)