The United States is expressing outrage over an incident Thursday in which Zimbabwean security forces and others detained U.S. and British diplomats trying to visit victims of political violence outside the capital, Harare. The State Department says it intends to raise the matter in the U.N. Security Council. VOA's David Gollust reports from the State Department.

U.S. officials are calling the latest incident outrageous and unacceptable, but they say American diplomats intend to remain in Zimbabwe despite the harassment to support  citizens of that country struggling for democracy.

In what was described here as a clearly-premeditated act, a band of about 40 Zimbabwean police, intelligence agents and others stopped a convoy of U.S. and British diplomats north of the capital - threatening the officials, beating one of their local drivers, and slashing vehicle tires.

Sean McCormack

Five American diplomats and two local staff members were detained, and though they were later released State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack said the incident - the second of its kind in as many months -- will not be forgotten.

He said the United States protested vigorously to officials in Harare, will seek out and raise the issue with Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe's delegation at the world food conference in Rome, and will take it up in the U.N. Security Council.

"It is an example of the fact that this government doesn't know any bounds. It flouted all international conventions, as well as protection accorded to diplomats accredited to their country," McCormack said. "And it is absolutely outrageous behavior and it is a taste of the kind of oppression and violence that this government is willing to use against its own people."

Tensions have been mounting between the Mugabe government and foreign diplomats in Harare, especially those from Britain and the United States who have complained about government moves against the opposition in advance of the June 27 presidential run-off election.

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe attends a high-level conference on World Food Security

Mr. Mugabe is facing opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai in the run-off. The United States called Mr. Tsvangirai's brief detention on Wednesday deeply disturbing.

In London, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said the kind of intimidation seen this week is suffered daily by Zimbabweans, especially those working with the opposition.

He said it underlines the need for the international community, and especially Zimbabwe's neighbors, to monitor the runoff vote.

"The argument today in Zimbabwe is not between Zimbabwe and Britain, it's about two different visions for the future of Zimbabwe," Miliband said. "And it's very important that the international community plays its role by assuring that for the election on June 27, there are international monitors, properly accredited who are able to insure that despite the ravages in Zimbabwe at the moment, there is an election that allows the democratic will of the Zimbabwean people to be heard loud and to be heard clear."

President Mugabe, who has run Zimbabwe since independence, has accused foreign powers and Britain in particular of interfering in his country's internal affairs, and conspiring with the opposition to restore colonial rule.

Both the United States and European Union have imposed travel and financial sanctions against Mr. Mugabe and his inner circle. The Zimbabwean leader was able to visit Rome this week, skirting the EU travel ban, because he is attending a U.N. function.