U.S. Ambassador to Zimbabwe James McGee, in company with envoys from Angola, Britain, Spain and Sweden, on Friday visited victims of political violence under medical care at a Harare hospital, expressing outrage at the brutality of the post-election assaults and killings and imploring those responsible for them to stop.

A group of Zimbabwean physicians meanwhile issued a report saying that its members have treated more than 900 victims of beatings and other assaults since the country's March 29 presidential and general elections. The victims have mainly been members of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, which claimed a majority in the lower house of parliament, and a number of them have told VOA that they were attacked by youth militia and war veterans affiliated with the ruling ZANU-PF.

The MDC says more than 30 of its supporters have been killed in the attacks. Human Rights Watch and other groups say the violence is state-sponsored and has involved the Zimbabwean military both directly and through provision of arms and transport.

"The violence in Zimbabwe has to stop," McGee told reporters after touring wards of the Avenues Clinic where about 20 victims of political violence were under treatment for injuries. "Whoever is perpetrating this violence, please, stop this now," he said.

"What I've seen is just absolute brutality," McGee said."When I see an 80-plus-year-old woman, a grandmother who is just beaten senseless for no reason other than that her children were MDC activists, it makes no sense to me whatsoever."

Correspondent Sylvia Manika of VOA's Studio 7 for Zimbabwe reported from Harare.

The Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights said the violence and torture have escalated sharply in recent weeks, and that the perpetrators have displayed new levels brutality and callousness even towards children, women and the elderly.

Sources told VOA that in a number of cases the Central Intelligence Organization, a secret police branch attached to the office of President Robert Mugabe, has seized X-rays and medical reports from state hospitals to suppress evidence of assaults.

Zimbabwe Doctors for Human Rights Chairman Douglas Gwatidzo told VOA reporter Blessing Zulu that the violence has become intense and unrestrained.

Also Friday, the Zimbabwe Peace Project issued a report saying it documented 4,331 cases of politically motivated violence in April, including 10 murders. It said the human rights violations last month shattered the record set in 2005 during the government's infamous Operation Murambatsvina, in which forced evictions and demolitions by security forces left hundreds of thousands of people homeless. the group detailed violence in provinces north and east of harare, where soldiers, war veterans and youth militia have set up camps from which they attack opposition supporters. but it said violence is now creeping into matabeleland. it called upon the government to put a stop to violence, and issued a challenge to police to quote "bring sanity" to disturbed areas. a zimbabwean army spokesman yesterday denied allegations that the military is supporting and participating in the spreading violence. public relations officer major alphios makotore said the army "categorically distances itself and any of its members from such activities." studio seven today reached deputy water resources minister walter mzembi who has been accused of directing violence in masvingo province. he tells studio seven that the opposition is framing him. meanwhile, some opposition members are fighting back to defend themselves, charging that police are doing little to protect them. a studio seven source in mhangura, mashonaland west says that m-d-c supporters wednesday fought back after they were attacked by zanu-pf militia. in shamva, mashonaland central, sources say opposition members mobilized and retaliated after their homes were destroyed by zanu-pf militia early yesterday morning. at renco mine in masvingo central, sources say four herdsmen lost their teeth tuesday after they were brutally beaten by the militia, who also burned their homes. also in masvingo province, sources say villagers in zaka west were being tortured at camps set up at the veza and mageza business centers, and were being obliged by the militia to pay goats, cattle and cash as fines for backing the opposition. a source in harare's mufakose section says about 47 people sheltered at a united methodist church after political violence in their rural areas were arrested wednesday. resident benardett dhakwa of mhangura tells reporter jonga kandemiiri that riot police were deployed in the mining town when it appeared that zanu-pf militia were losing ground.

Some opposition members are fighting back to defend themselves, charging that police are doing little to protect them. A Studio 7 source in Mhangura, Mashonaland West said that MDC supporters Wednesday fought back after they were attacked by Zanu-PF militia.

In Shamva, Mashonaland Central, sources said opposition members mobilized and retaliated after their homes were destroyed by Zanu-PF militia early Thursday morning.

At Renco Mine in Masvingo Central, sources said four herdsmen lost their teeth Tuesday after they were brutally beaten by the militia, who also burned their homes. Also in Masvingo Province, sources said villagers in Zaka West were being tortured at camps set up at the Veza and Mageza Business Centers, and were being obliged by the militia to pay goats, cattle and cash as fines for backing the opposition. 

A source in Harare's Mufakose section said about 47 people sheltered at a United Methodist Church after political violence in their rural areas were arrested Wednesday.

Resident Benardett Dhakwa of Mhangura told reporter Jonga Kandemiiri that riot police were deployed in the mining town when it appeared that Zanu-PF militia were losing ground.

More reports from VOA's Studio 7 for Zimbabwe...