Washington - The US State Department expressed concern on
Wednesday over reports that riot police had fired stun grenades
at hundreds of students protesting tuition increases.
State Department spokesperson John Kirby told reporters at a
briefing that the agency had seen the reports and would closely monitor the
situation.
"Obviously our position ... in terms of the right of
peaceful protest remains the same," he said.
The protests, some violent, have disrupted at least 14 universities
in the past week. At issue is a proposed 11.5% tuition increase.
Riot police fired stun grenades as hundreds of students
stormed the Parliament precinct in Cape Town to disrupt the reading of Finance
Minister Nhlanhla Nene's interim budget.
The protesters have rejected a proposal by some student
leaders and government officials to cap fee increases at 6% for 2016, just
above inflation.
