The G8 is "concerned by acts of violence committed by the Zimbabwean state against its people" and "calls on the government of Zimbabwe to respect the right to public protest," Berlusconi said, citing a draft joint statement.
Leaders from the Group of Eight major world powers attending their annual summit in the French resort of Evian also called on the five sponsors of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (Nepad) to help facilitate a "peaceful solution" to the crisis gripping Zimbabwe, Berlusconi told reporters.
The five Nepad sponsors are Algeria, Egypt, Nigeria, Senegal and South Africa.
Ruling party militias ran riot in the Zimbabwe capital Harare, while police beat protesters and fired tear gas as opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai arrested was after he vowed to lead an anti-government strike.
Tsvangirai, the leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), was later released, but police arrested scores of other opposition officials across the southern African country. – Sapa-AFP.
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