Stone-throwers attack soldiers
2008-12-01 22:33
Special Report
Zimbabwean prime minister Morgan Tsvangirai says there has been progress in talks between the country's two political parties.
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe says he doesn't expect the US sanctions on his country to be lifted soon.
Harare - Zimbabwean riot police fired teargas on Monday to disperse hundreds of stone-throwers who chased a group of soldiers they accused of a violent crackdown on illegal foreign currency dealers.
A Reuters correspondent saw hundreds of mostly young men chasing dozens of uniformed but unarmed soldiers in the capital, where tensions are high due to a deepening political and economic crisis.
The crowd was chanting: "Beat up the soldiers."
"They (the soldiers) just came here taking money from people and beating and harassing them," a woman who gave her name as Anna said.
One youth, among the group chasing the soldiers, said: "Someone has to say enough is enough."
Police said they were unaware of the incident, and there were no reports of injuries. Most shops closed down due to the clash.
The once-prosperous African nation suffers chronic food and fuel shortages and an official inflation rate of over 230 million percent. The Zimbabwean dollar has collapsed, spawning a black market for foreign currency, primarily US dollars.
- Reuters