Police use tear gas as protests grow

ARMED police used tear gas yesterday to disperse demonstrators demanding the resignation of Malawi’s president after an election they say was rigged, escalating the state’s response to protests that began two days ago.

Thousands of supporters of opposition parties took to the streets of the capital Lilongwe, one group occupying a complex housing the presidency and government offices for a third day.

Protesters said that police had also fired bullets and a child had been “accidentally shot” but survived.

President Peter Mutharika narrowly won re-election last month. Opposition parties complained of irregularities, but the state electoral commission ratified Mutharika’s victory on May 27.

“The crowds were getting violent today so we decided to fire tear gas to quell the protests,” police said.

Most of the protesters support the main opposition Malawi Congress Party.