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Children held hostage in Cameroon Child shot dead in Cameroon drama
(about 1 hour later)
Some 2,000 boarding school children are being used as human shields by demonstrators in Cameroon. Paramilitary gendarmes have dispersed Cameroonian demonstrators using about 2,000 school children as human shields in Bamenda city in the north-west.
Thousands of protesters went into three schools in Bamenda in the north-west to escape police pursuing them after violent demonstrations overnight. Thousands of protesters had gone into three boarding schools to escape police pursuing them after violence overnight.
They then made the pupils take to the streets to protect them from gendarmes as they attacked a brewery depot.
A BBC reporter says a teenage boy has been shot dead but it not clear if he was with the group of child hostages.
There have been days of protests across the country, sparked by a taxi-driver strike over a fuel price rise.There have been days of protests across the country, sparked by a taxi-driver strike over a fuel price rise.
President Paul Biya has blamed the opposition for violence which has left at least seven dead. President Paul Biya has blamed the opposition for violence which has left at least eight dead.
It's a miserable situation and the government has not addressed this SDF's John Fru NdiIt's a miserable situation and the government has not addressed this SDF's John Fru Ndi
Opposition groups have been calling for protests to stop the constitution being amended to allow Mr Biya to run for re-election when his current term expires in 2011.Opposition groups have been calling for protests to stop the constitution being amended to allow Mr Biya to run for re-election when his current term expires in 2011.
John Fru Ndi of the opposition Social Democratic Front, denied being behind the unrest but he said he could understand the frustrations felt by Cameroonians because of the high cost of living. John Fru Ndi of the opposition Social Democratic Front denied being behind the unrest but said he could understand the frustrations felt by Cameroonians because of the high cost of living.
"It's a miserable situation and the government has not addressed this," he told the BBC's Network Africa programme."It's a miserable situation and the government has not addressed this," he told the BBC's Network Africa programme.
"The people have no other alternative than to express themselves by marching on the streets to draw government's attention to issues affecting their everyday lives.""The people have no other alternative than to express themselves by marching on the streets to draw government's attention to issues affecting their everyday lives."
Trapped Stray bullet
The BBC's Randy Joe Sa'ah in Douala says the protests nationwide are continuing and the trade unions who called the strike, which was called off 24 hours ago, now seem unable to get the people off the streets.The BBC's Randy Joe Sa'ah in Douala says the protests nationwide are continuing and the trade unions who called the strike, which was called off 24 hours ago, now seem unable to get the people off the streets.
There are plans for Mr Biya to run for president again in 2011There are plans for Mr Biya to run for president again in 2011
Two post offices were razed to the ground overnight in Bamenda by demonstrators who were then chased by police.Two post offices were razed to the ground overnight in Bamenda by demonstrators who were then chased by police.
The protestors have taken up positions at three boarding schools in the city to stop police throwing tear gas canisters at them. The protestors went to boarding schools in the city to stop police throwing tear gas canisters at them.
While most schools have been closed all week, boarding school pupils have been unable to get home because transport has been at a standstill, our reporter says.While most schools have been closed all week, boarding school pupils have been unable to get home because transport has been at a standstill, our reporter says.
By Thursday afternoon, some parents had walked into Bamenda to the schools and protesters allowed them to take their children. When the protesters decided to attack a brewery deport, they marched the children with them - but gendarmes dispersed them before they reached their destination.
The children escaped in the confusion and many have gone back to the schools, while some parents have walked into town to collect their children.
A teenage boy from another school was killed by a stray bullet in street demonstrations and his body is now at the Bamenda mortuary, our reporter says.
Barricades
In Douala, there are still no taxis or motorcycles on the streets and all markets are closed.In Douala, there are still no taxis or motorcycles on the streets and all markets are closed.
Our correspondent says people do not seem to have received Mr Biya's comments well - and are angered that he did not address the issue of the cost of living.Our correspondent says people do not seem to have received Mr Biya's comments well - and are angered that he did not address the issue of the cost of living.
Groups of angry youths carrying flags and placards have attempted to block off roads with barricades in the city and are involved in a game of cat and mouse with the police.Groups of angry youths carrying flags and placards have attempted to block off roads with barricades in the city and are involved in a game of cat and mouse with the police.
Some of the placards call for further price reductions and denounce plans to change the constitution.Some of the placards call for further price reductions and denounce plans to change the constitution.
In the capital, Yaounde, there is a heavy military deployment and the situation remains tense.In the capital, Yaounde, there is a heavy military deployment and the situation remains tense.
Gendarmes have erected barricades to stop people moving in large groups and as people approach them they make them raise their hands in the air.
The BBC West Africa correspondent Will Ross says Cameroon is home to more than 100 different ethnic groups, and keeping the country relatively stable has been one of the major achievements of President Biya's 25 years in office.The BBC West Africa correspondent Will Ross says Cameroon is home to more than 100 different ethnic groups, and keeping the country relatively stable has been one of the major achievements of President Biya's 25 years in office.
The violent scenes across the country this week are a sign that the population is becoming increasingly frustrated in what is one of the most corrupt countries in Africa, he says.The violent scenes across the country this week are a sign that the population is becoming increasingly frustrated in what is one of the most corrupt countries in Africa, he says.