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Cameroon singer jailed for riots | Cameroon singer jailed for riots |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A court in Cameroon has sentenced one of the country's best-known singers, Lapiro de Mbanga, to three years in prison over anti-government riots. | A court in Cameroon has sentenced one of the country's best-known singers, Lapiro de Mbanga, to three years in prison over anti-government riots. |
Lapiro was convicted for taking part in riots in February that authorities said left at least 40 people dead. | |
The singer is the author of a song criticising a constitutional reform that will allow the President Paul Biya to seek re-election in 2011. | |
Lapiro's wife denied that her husband had taken part in the riots. | Lapiro's wife denied that her husband had taken part in the riots. |
In comments to AFP news agency, she said he had actually "calmed people down so that they wouldn't set fire to the city hall," in Lapiro's home town of Mbanga. | In comments to AFP news agency, she said he had actually "calmed people down so that they wouldn't set fire to the city hall," in Lapiro's home town of Mbanga. |
The court also ordered the singer to pay 280m CFA francs ($640,000) in compensation for damage caused during the riots. | |
Mbanga was one of several Cameroonian towns that saw riots in February over the high cost of living and the constitutional reform. | Mbanga was one of several Cameroonian towns that saw riots in February over the high cost of living and the constitutional reform. |
Authorities had accused Lapiro, an influential member of the opposition Social Democratic Front, of being one of the orchestrators of the riots there, the BBC's Frederik Takang reports from Cameroon. | |
Lapiro's supporters have said the 51-year-old singer is victimised for his songs, which often criticise the government. | Lapiro's supporters have said the 51-year-old singer is victimised for his songs, which often criticise the government. |
President Biya has been in power since 1982. | President Biya has been in power since 1982. |
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