U.S. calls for U.N. action on Zimbabwe

WASHINGTON (CNN) - The Bush administration Thursday called on the U.N. Security Council to immediately address the situation in Zimbabwe, where the opposition presidential candidate was arrested twice in one day and a key opposition party official was arrested and charged with treason.

"The United States is deeply troubled" by the arrests of Movement for Democratic Change Secretary General Tendai Biti and presidential candidate Morgan Tsvangirai, according to a statement from the White House.

"We believe the time has come for the United Nations Security Council to take up immediately the issue to prevent further deterioration of the region's humanitarian and security situation," the statement said.