HARARE, Zimbabwe — A brutal weekend clash with riot police bloodied and emboldened Zimbabwe’s fractured opposition, gave it a new sense of unity and strengthened its determination to make this year a turning point in its drive to oust President Robert Mugabe and his authoritarian regime.Zimbabwe’s main opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, suffered a suspected skull fracture, brain injury and internal bleeding in the violence, doctors reported yesterday, after what lawyers and other activists said were savage beatings while in police custody.

Tsvangirai, 54, told the British Broadcasting Corp. in an interview from his bed in a Harare clinic that police beat him on the head, and that he suffered body blows to the knees and back, and that his arm was broken. He said he “lost a lot of blood” and that he was given two pints.

“I think the intent was to inflict as much harm as they could,” he said.

One opposition activist, identified as Gift Tandare, was shot dead by police Sunday when officers dispersed crowds headed to a prayer meeting.

William Bango, one of Tsvangirai’s aides who was sent home from hospital yesterday told reporters that he and the other detainees were beaten repeatedly by police at the scene of arrest and at police stations.

“We were made to lie on our stomach and they beat us with batons and iron bars. When one group of police got tired another started on us,” said Bango, who suffered bruising and internal pain.

Tsvangirai was beaten savagely in the same way and bled heavily, he said.

The opposition leader was moved yesterday to a unit in the clinic where he could be more closely monitored and was awaiting the results of a brain scan, said Tafadza Mugabe, one of his lawyers. Results are expected today.

Mugabe went to the same clinic yesterday afternoon to visit his sister, Sabena Mugabe, who was there for an undisclosed ailment, hospital staff said.

The violence heightened growing tensions in urban strongholds of the opposition, often seen as failing to rise against state repression. The events have renewed questions about how long Mugabe can maintain his tight grip on power.

Human rights groups said worsening poverty and discontent fuelled growing anger against authorities. The respected Brussels-based International Crisis Group said earlier this month that deep divisions within Robert Mugabe’s own ruling party also appeared to have “energised” often placid Zimbabweans to take to the streets, and it warned of further civil unrest.

Independent human rights groups have reported discontent in the poorly paid security forces.

Police reported late yesterday that three policewomen were injured in a gasoline bomb attack on a police station in Marimba district in western Harare. Police said they suspected opposition activists were responsible for the attack, which burned the women.

Police spokesman Wayne Bvudzijena told state television, “the nature of the attack assumes a militia type.”

A dozen activists allegedly beaten by police remained hospitalised, their lawyers said. Thirty-four others were released from the clinic early yesterday, Tafadza Mugabe said. Those freed were told to return to the Harare magistrates’ court yesterday, but no proceedings were held and the activists returned home.

Innocent Chagonda, another Tsvangirai lawyer, said police withdrew yesterday afternoon from the Harare clinic. He noted that a High Court order issued late Monday said police had to charge or release the opposition leaders and activists by noon on Tuesday, and none was charged.

“As far as we are concerned, they are now free men,” Chagonda said.

The violence has drawn international condemnation. Ghanaian President John Kufuor, who holds the rotating African Union chairmanship, added his voice yesterday.

“The situation in (Zimbabwe) is very embarrassing,” he told an audience at the Royal Institute of International Affairs in London.

“I know personally that presidents like (South Africa’s Thabo) Mbeki tried desperately to exercise some influence for the better,” he said.

“Please don’t think that Africa is not concerned. Africa is very much concerned. What can Mbeki as a man do? Are you proposing that Africa compose an expedition team to march on Zimbabwe and oppose? It does not happen like that.”

South Africa, the region’s political and economic leader, has followed a policy of “quiet diplomacy,” arguing that working behind the scenes would do more to encourage reform in Zimbabwe than isolating Mugabe. But Mbeki has been under pressure to do more.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice Tuesday called Mugabe’s regime “ruthless and repressive.”