Zambian students riot

2002-04-25 15:06

Lusaka - Hundreds of students from Zambia's second largest university fought running battles with police and stoned vehicles, in protest at a shortage of campus housing, police said on Thursday.

The students attempted to march in the streets but were blocked by riot police, prompting them to stone vehicles, a senior police officer said.

Police used tear gas to disperse the protesting students, he said.

"They stoned vehicles and beat up some police officers whom they disarmed," the officer said, on condition of anonymity.

The students were protesting at the lack of accommodation at Copperbelt University (CBU), based in Zambia's second biggest city, Kitwe, about 400km north of the capital, Lusaka.

Some students were reported to have been severely injured during the fracas and were rushed to the hospital, police said, without giving figures of those injured.

Armed riot police have now surrounded the campus and blocked people from either entering or leaving the premises, police said. - Sapa-AFP

- SAPA