South Africa has called on Zimbabwe to uphold the rule of law and the rights of opposition leaders following international concern over the treatment of detained Zimbabwean opposition figures by the police. Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad expressed South Africa's concern and urged the Zimbabwean government to ensure the respect of rights for all citizens and political leaders. Pahad also appealed to opposition leaders to work towards a peaceful resolution to the current challenges in Zimbabwe. South Africa, as the region's economic powerhouse, has traditionally pursued a policy of "quiet diplomacy" towards President Robert Mugabe, believing that public confrontation could be counterproductive. The leader of the Opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), Morgan Tsvangirai, along with many others, was arrested on Sunday for trying to protest against Mugabe's leadership. Tsvangirai and the rest of those arrested appeared in court on Tuesday, but were quickly taken to the hospital for treatment of injuries reportedly obtained while in police custody. Pahad stated that South Africa would continue to collaborate with all parties in Zimbabwe to ensure that the goal of dialogue among political groups is achieved.