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Police hold Swazi poll protesters Police hold Swazi poll protesters
(about 6 hours later)
Police in Swaziland have detained a number of pro-democracy activists planning a border blockade ahead of parliamentary elections in the kingdom.Police in Swaziland have detained a number of pro-democracy activists planning a border blockade ahead of parliamentary elections in the kingdom.
Several union leaders were bundled into police vans at the main border crossing with South Africa, organisers of the planned blockade said.Several union leaders were bundled into police vans at the main border crossing with South Africa, organisers of the planned blockade said.
Political parties are banned in Swaziland, one of the world's last absolute monarchies.Political parties are banned in Swaziland, one of the world's last absolute monarchies.
There have been recent protests calling for change and multi-party democracy.There have been recent protests calling for change and multi-party democracy.
King Mswati III, who has been in power since 1986 and recently celebrated his 40th birthday, hand-picks many of Swaziland's parliamentarians. In Friday's elections, 55 unaffiliated candidates are due to be chosen for Swaziland's national assembly.
King Mswati III, who has been in power since 1986 and recently celebrated his 40th birthday, hand-picks a further 10 people.
The assembly then chooses 10 representatives for the Senate, with a further 20 selected by the king.
Correspondents say the king remains popular with many of his subjects, though opposition has been growing to his lavish lifestyle in a country where most people live in poverty.Correspondents say the king remains popular with many of his subjects, though opposition has been growing to his lavish lifestyle in a country where most people live in poverty.
Border protestBorder protest
Early on Thursday, authorities detained unions leaders and other activists after they arrived at Oshoek, Swaziland's main point of trade with South Africa. Early on Thursday, authorities detained union leaders and other activists after they arrived at Oshoek, Swaziland's main point of trade with South Africa.
Among those being held was Jan Sithole, the secretary-general of the Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions. Among those being held was Jan Sithole, the secretary-general of the Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions, who said he had been driven about 120km from the border to Piggs Peak.
The BBC's Thulani Mthewa, who is at the border, said some 200 people - both South African and Swazi - had begun a protest on the South African side of the border, but the demonstration on the Swazi side had been blocked. The whole world was making noises about Zimbabwe. It's the same problem with Swaziland Kesco Mataba South African union leader
Other would-be protesters in buses and cars were turned back by Swazi authorities.
The BBC's Thulani Mthewa, who is at the border, said some 200 people - both South African and Swazi - protested on the South African side of the crossing, but the demonstration on the Swazi side had been blocked and the border remained open.
South African unionists from the umbrella organisation Cosatu are demonstrating in solidarity with their Swazi counterparts.South African unionists from the umbrella organisation Cosatu are demonstrating in solidarity with their Swazi counterparts.
"The problem of Swaziland is our problem because the current regime is not resolving many problems - HIV/Aids, unemployment - their people are flocking in our country," said Kesco Mataba of the South African Young Communist League.
"The whole world was making noises about Zimbabwe," he said. "It's the same problem with Swaziland."
Riot police have been deployed on both sides of the border crossing, our reporter says.Riot police have been deployed on both sides of the border crossing, our reporter says.
Landlocked Swaziland is almost entirely surrounded by South Africa.Landlocked Swaziland is almost entirely surrounded by South Africa.
Ahead of the planned blockade, Swazi government spokesman Percy Simelane said the protest was unnecessary. Ahead of the planned blockade, Swazi government spokesman Percy Simelane said the protest was illegal.
"The issues have been dealt with, the blockade is illegal, Swaziland hasn't done anything to deserve being treated the way it is being treated by our unions and also the unions in South Africa," he told the BBC Network Africa programme. "No one is allowed to wake up in the morning and go and close borders leading to another country, not even the government is allowed to do that," he told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme.
But the secretary-general of the Swaziland Federation of Labour, Vincent Ncongwane, said protesters wanted to demonstrate that Friday's elections would not be inclusive.But the secretary-general of the Swaziland Federation of Labour, Vincent Ncongwane, said protesters wanted to demonstrate that Friday's elections would not be inclusive.
"We still have in Swaziland this myth that you can have a democracy where there isn't the participation of other political parties," he told the BBC."We still have in Swaziland this myth that you can have a democracy where there isn't the participation of other political parties," he told the BBC.