U.S. condemns post-election violence in Zimbabwe

WASHINGTON, April 11 (Reuters) - The U.S. State Department on Friday condemned the use of violence by Zimbabwe security forces and supporters of the ruling ZANU-PF party against opponents following the deadlocked March 29 election.

"These incidents appear to target individuals who voted against ZANU-PF candidates during the elections," according to a statement by State Department spokesman Sean McCormack.

"There is no place for violence or intimidation in a democratic society," he said, adding the United States called on the Zimbabwe government to "immediately desist" from acts of violence and allow the electoral process to continue.

Human rights organization and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change have said Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe has unleased a campaign of systematic violence in response to his ruling party's first electoral defeat, when it lost control of parliament in the March 29 election.

"We call on the international community to monitor the situation and gather information for those responsible for violent acts," McCormack said. (Reporting By Joanne Morrison; Editing by Peter Cooney)