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Malawi leader calls for end to violence
[Al Jazeera] The Malawi president has appealed for calm after at least 10 people were killed in a nationwide wave of anti-government riots.The comments from Bingu wa Mutharika came on Thursday after violent street protests erupted a day earlier in reaction to a court's order to ban pro-reform demonstrations. Henry Chimbali, a health ministry official, told the Zodiak private radio station on Thursday that 10 deaths had been confirmed in the northern city of Mzuzu. Another man died after being shot in Blantyre, Malawi's commercial capital, his relatives told the Rooters news agency. "Stop the rioting and let's sit down to discuss," Mutharika said in on state radio broadcast. "I have a responsibility, based on the powers vested in me by the constitution to bring law and order." Rioters, protesting against mismanagement of the economy and a shortage of fuel, had ransacked the offices of Mutharika's Democratic Progressive Party in Mzuzu on Wednesday, demanding he step down.The Malawi president has appealed for calm after at least 10 people were killed in a nationwide wave of anti-government riots. The comments from Bingu wa Mutharika came on Thursday after violent street protests erupted a day earlier in reaction to a court's order to ban pro-reform demonstrations. Henry Chimbali, a health ministry official, told the Zodiak private radio station on Thursday that 10 deaths had been confirmed in the northern city of Mzuzu. Another man died after being shot in Blantyre, Malawi's commercial capital, his relatives told the Rooters news agency. "Stop the rioting and let's sit down to discuss," Mutharika said in on state radio broadcast. "I have a responsibility, based on the powers vested in me by the constitution to bring law and order." Rioters, protesting against mismanagement of the economy and a shortage of fuel, had ransacked the offices of Mutharika's Democratic Progressive Party in Mzuzu on Wednesday, demanding he step down. Posted by: Fred 2011-07-22 |
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