Cape Breton Post

South African lawmakers brawl during protest of president

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JOHANNESBU­RG — South Africa’s parliament descended into chaos on Thursday, with opposition lawmakers denouncing President Jacob Zuma as a “scoundrel” and “rotten to the core” because of corruption allegation­s and then brawling with guards who dragged them out of the chamber. The raucous scenes unfolded on national television as opposition legislator­s tried to stop Zuma from addressing the chamber, repeatedly insulting the president and declaring him unfit for office. In the surroundin­g streets of Cape Town, police and hundreds of military forces patrolled to guard against protesters who want Zuma to quit. Security teams eventually were called into the chamber to remove red-clad members of the opposition Economic Freedom Fighters, some of whom threw punches and pounded guards with plastic helmets.

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