Zimbabwe: Opposition activists bruised and bloodied, reportedly by police while in custody, have been temporarily released.

The group were freed into the custody of lawyers last night after appearing in a Harare court.

They were to return to court this morning, said lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa.

She said: "There was no prosecutor, no magistrate, no court officials - only police. It says we are in a police state."

Mtetwa said the activists had not been formally discharged from a hospital when police took them to the court where they had appeared earlier.

About 12 of the 50 detained activists stayed at the hospital during the second court appearance, including opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, Mtetwa said.

The arrests at a prayer meeting and the treatment of the protesters have been condemned around the world.