Britain accused President Mugabe yesterday of trying to steal the Zimbab-wean election and “beating to death” his own people in a desperate attempt to stay in power.

The remarks, from David Miliband, the Foreign Secretary, came as the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) called for humanitarian intervention, saying that ten people had been killed and hundreds injured in the postelection violence.

Opposition workers and supporters who have fled the turmoil have reported the setting-up of “reeducation camps” across the country where people are rounded up and beaten into declaring their support for Mr Mugabe’s ruling Zanu (PF) party.

In Britain’s strongest criticism of the regime so far, Mr Miliband told Parliament that “no one could have any faith” in the election recount under way in Harare. “The constitutional crisis in Zimbabwe continues as President Mugabe persists in his ambition to steal the election,” he said.

In an apparent appeal to Zimbabwe’s neighbours to take action, he added: “Ordinary Africans do not condone the way in which President Mugabe is clinging to power and beating his own people to death to ensure he retains it.”

The violence, mostly towards MDC activists in areas once loyal to Zanu (PF), appears aimed at crippling the Opposition’s electoral hopes before an expected run-off, which Mr Mugabe has insisted will go ahead despite the Opposition’s insistence that it has already won outright. In one of the many surreal reversals that have become the hallmark of the election, dozens of opposition supporters appeared in court yesterday charged with inciting violence.

Prosecutors claim that they were behind a series of incidents, including the burning of commuter buses, during a strike called by the Opposition last week. The MDC has accused the Government of double standards, prosecuting its supporters while ignoring the far more serious allegations of violence by Zanu (PF) militias.

The Government dismissed the MDC claims as “desperate”, saying “the vigilante groups are in [the MDC secretary-general’s] head”. Bright Matonga, the government spokesman, said: “These are imaginary vigilantes.”

The crisis in Zimbabwe has thrown the region into turmoil as neighbouring countries feel the mounting international pressure to take action. South Africa’s President, Thabo Mbeki, the region’s official mediator on Zimbabwe, has been widely lambasted for his “softly-softly” approach, and faces increasing opposition to his stance even within his own country.

A South African parliamentarian who served as an election observer publicly testified yesterday to the ballot-stuffing she witnessed during her duties in Zimbabwe.

Last week South African trade unions refused to unload a Chinese ship carrying arms for Zimbabwe and a court blocked it from being transported across the country. It is believed to be heading for Angola, but President Mwanawasa, of Zambia, urged regional states yesterday to bar it from their waters, saying that the shipment could deepen the country’s crisis.

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