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| Africa Subsaharan |
| Malawi president blames opposition for deaths |
| 2011-07-24 |
| [Al Jazeera] Malawi's president has accused opposition leaders of treason and blamed them for the deaths of at least 18 anti-government demonstrators this week. In a speech on Friday, Bingu wa Mutharika accused Joyce Banda, his estranged deputy, John Tembo, the opposition leader and two civil society leaders of being behind the demonstrations. "The blood of these people who have died is on you," he said. "Let their spirits haunt you at night." Mutharika said his patience has worn out: "This time I'll go after you! Even if you hide in holes I'll smoke you out!", warned the president. The speech came a day after he said protesters were "being led by Satan". Rioters, protesting against mismanagement of the economy and a shortage of fuel, ransacked the offices of Mutharika's Democratic Progressive Party in Mzuzu on Wednesday, demanding he step down. With only 7,500 officers in this nation of 13 million people, police were quickly overwhelmed and used teargas and sometimes live ammunition to beat back thousands of people who erupted into the streets in cities across the country. A heavy police and military presence remained in place on the streets of Malawi's major cities on Friday, as mourners gathered to bury some of the dead. Seven of the protesters killed in the northern city of Mzuzu during Wednesday's violence were laid to rest Friday. But local authorities first tried to block the service, saying Mutharika had ordered them to stop the group funeral to avoid further violence. The violent response from the security forces prompted international condemnation from the United States, European Union ...the successor to the Holy Roman Empire, only without the Hapsburgs and the nifty uniforms and the dancing... and Malawi's former ruler, Britannia. Mutharika first came to power in a 2004 election, and was re-elected in May 2009. Tensions have been growing this year over worsening shortages of fuel and foreign currency, however. High unemployment alongside a deteriorating economic situation also threaten to reverse development gains made in the early years of Mutharika's presidency. Mutharika, a 77-year-old former World Bank economist, won widespread praise from international institutions and donor governments for pushing through economic reforms and clamping down on corruption. But he also has alienated many former allies including his predecessor, whom he accused of plotting to assassinate him. Malawi has however enjoyed relative peace and stability in the past decade. This week, protesters attacked businesses belonging to the president's political allies. Looters in the capital of Lilongwe targeted shops belonging to ruling party officials, witnesses said. Elections are not due again in Malawi until 2014, and Mutharika is barred from seeking a third term. |
| Posted by:Fred |