Calm returns to Malawi cities, 18 people killed

Blantyre - Police in Malawi on Saturday said calm had returned to main cities after anti-government riots this week killed 18 people in the deadliest protests since democracy in 1994.

"It's now calm everywhere and in all townships in Blantyre," said Davie Chingwalu, police spokesperson of the south.

Two days of rioting erupted after police tried to block nationwide demonstrations against President Bingu wa Mutharika on Wednesday, using teargas and sometimes live ammunition to disperse protesters.

In the northern city of Mzuzu, where half of those killed were from, police representative Edward Longwe said: "Businesses are back to normal. It's very peaceful."

John Namalenga, police spokesperson for the central region said the administrative capital Lilongwe was calm and quiet and that businesses, shops and banks had reopened.

Soldiers deployed since Thursday to quell the unrest, in which police have arrested more than 275 people, were now back at their barracks.

Mutharika on Friday accused opposition leaders and rights activists of seeking to overthrow his government and vowed protesters, who accuse him of economic mismanagement and infringing democratic rights, will meet the "wrath of government".

The deaths have been internationally condemned, with the US on Friday warning that it was reviewing a $350m grant.

Last week Britain became the latest donor to cut aid to Malawi over concerns about economic management and Mutharika's moves to rein in the media, restrict lawsuits against the government and limit protests.

Malawi has suffered crippling fuel shortages as the government ran low on foreign currency to pay for imports, stoking public discontent.
- AFP