JOHANNESBURG, March 13 (Reuters) - South Africa urged Zimbabwe on Tuesday to respect the rule of law and the rights of opposition leaders amid a worldwide outcry over police treatment of detained Zimbabwean opposition figures.

Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad, in Pretoria's first detailed statement on the situation in its northern neighbour since an opposition demonstration was crushed on Sunday, said South Africa was concerned.

"South Africa urges the Zimbabwean government to ensure that the rule of law including the respect for rights of all Zimbabweans and leaders of various political parties is respected," Pahad said in a statement.

"Similarly, we appeal to leaders of opposition political parties to work towards a climate that is conducive to finding a lasting solution to the current challenges faced by the people of Zimbabwe."

South Africa, the region's economic powerhouse, has long maintained a policy of "quiet diplomacy" toward Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe, arguing that public confrontation with him over allegations of human rights abuses and economic mismanagement could be counterproductive.

Opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai and dozens of other people were arrested on Sunday for attempting to protest against Mugabe's rule.

Tsvangirai and the others appeared in court on Tuesday but were immediately sent to hospital for treatment of injuries which party officials said were sustained in police custody.

Pahad said South Africa would continue to work with all sides in Zimbabwe "to ensure the objective of dialogue among all political parties is realised."

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