Malawi riots erupt

Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world, with an estimated 75% of the population living on less than $1 (60p) a day.

The government recently passed an austerity budget, raising taxes to reduce dependence on aid.

The demonstrations were called to protest against rising fuel prices, a shortage of foreign exchange reserves, alleged bad governance and poor international relations.

LANTYRE (Reuters) – Riots broke out in several cities in Malawi Wednesday after police and the army tried to disperse protesters demanding the resignation of President Bingu wa Mutharika, whom they accuse of ignoring civil liberties and damaging the economy.

Last week, the UK cut direct aid to Malawi after a diplomatic spat with Mr Mutharika’s government.

The UK accused Malawi of mishandling the economy and failing to uphold human rights.

In the southern African nation’s capital, Lilongwe, witnesses said smoke was billowing into the sky as protesters burned cars, offices and shops belonging to ministers and politicians from Mutharika’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

Troops were deployed on the streets of the normally sleepy commercial capital, Blantyre, and police fired teargas at marchers who had gathered outside the stock exchange in defiance of a court order.

“The earlier injunction has been withdrawn and we’re proceeding on the planned route of the demonstration but sadly we’re being smoked by teargas,” Gift Makhwawa, president of the Malawi Law Society, told Reuters.