Mark Chavunduka, 34, editor of the independent Standard newspaper, and reporter Ray Choto, 37, were detained by military police after they reported the arrest of 23 soldiers over an alleged coup plot in December.

A medical report, commissioned by their newspaper, on the pair has confirmed their allegations of torture.

Zimbabwe's acting foreign minister, Nathan Shamuyarira, was told by the envoys - who were accompanied by diplomats from Japan, Australia and Canada - the case had seriously damaged Zimbabwe's image.

Nathan Shamuyarira..received a protest note from foreign envoys

He was urged to demonstrate Zimbabwe's commitment to human rights, order an immediate investigation into the torture charges and punish anyone who was found to be guilty.

Government denies report

President Robert Mugabe's government has denied the 10 January report in the Standard and described it as "treasonable".

A protest note, signed by Germany as president of the European Union, said the EU was particularly concerned by the detention of civilians by the military, the violation of human rights by the use of torture, the violation of press freedom. It said it was also worried by the threat to the independence of the judiciary after the military twice ignored a High Court order to release Mr Chavunduka.

The note said: "The above mentioned actions have done serious damage to the image of Zimbabwe."

'Obvious bruisings'

Ray Choto says he was subjected to electric shocks

Dr Philemon Chigwanda, a specialist orthopaedic and trauma surgeon, says he has no doubt the two journalists were severely assaulted and tortured.

He said both men had obvious bruising on their buttocks, arms and legs consistent with their stories of having been beaten with wooden blocks.

He also found signs of electric shocks on the feet of Mr Choto.

The journalists have been charged with publishing false news, but they allege the military tortured them.

They say the military appeared to be taking the coup plot story seriously and were seeking the sources of the story.

Charges denied

Mr Chavunduka..."beaten with wooden blocks"

Both deny the charges and are currently free on bail, but have not yet returned to work.

Meanwhile the government's senior law officer, the attorney general, has promised that if the alleged victims lodge an official complaint he will order the police to investigate.

The incident has provoked outrage in Zimbabwe, but the government has denied the accusations and merely intensified its verbal attacks on the independent and foreign media.

'Chocolate, not bombs'

In an unconnected move Switzerland intervened to stop the sale of cluster bombs to the Zimbabwean military by a Swiss arms dealer.

The authorities in Berne feared the bombs would be used by Zimbabwean troops in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where they are entangled in the civil war.

The Swiss Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Catherine Polejack, said Swiss regulations required approval of all exports that could be used in "situations of volatility and tension."

"It's not like peanuts or chocolate," she said.