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Tight security after Swazi bombs | Tight security after Swazi bombs |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Security has been tightened in Swaziland, where authorities are investigating a failed bomb attack near one of King Mswati III's royal palaces. | |
Swazi investigators are conducting a joint probe with counterparts from neighbouring South Africa into last Saturday's attempted bombing. | |
Meanwhile, a government official acknowledged there had been previous attempted bomb attacks. | |
He said an opposition group had claimed responsibility for Saturday's attempt. | |
Two activists - one Swazi and one South African - were killed planting the device near the capital, Mbabane, while a South African survivor was detained. | |
Government spokesman Percy Simelane told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme that the opposition People's United Democratic Movement (Pudemo) had said it was behind the bombing. | |
'Failed to convince' | |
Authorities say they have found other bombs near railways, bridges and roads, but Mr Simelane played down the threat from Pudemo. | |
"They have a following but unfortunately for them, that following is not bigger than the number of people who are for the system," he said. | |
"It is simply because they have failed to convince the people that they want to kill the people, and we do not call that democracy." | |
Even so, authorities have increased police presence around government buildings in Mbabane over the last week, the BBC's Thulani Mtwethwa reports. | |
The attempted bombings come amid a rise in opposition to one of the world's last absolute monarchies. | |
The Swazi opposition says they are a result of people's frustrations with a ban on political parties. | The Swazi opposition says they are a result of people's frustrations with a ban on political parties. |
Swaziland held its first parliamentary election under a new constitution a week ago. | Swaziland held its first parliamentary election under a new constitution a week ago. |
On the day of the election, authorities blocked protesters who said they wanted to shut down the border crossing between landlocked Swaziland and South Africa. | On the day of the election, authorities blocked protesters who said they wanted to shut down the border crossing between landlocked Swaziland and South Africa. |
South African unionists held protests on their side of the border in solidarity with Swazi activists. | |
Some Swazis blame King Mswati III for plunging the country into poverty and failing to tackle an Aids epidemic. | Some Swazis blame King Mswati III for plunging the country into poverty and failing to tackle an Aids epidemic. |
The king has been in power since 1986. | The king has been in power since 1986. |
His government recently organised a lavish $12m (£6.6m) party to celebrate the king's 40th birthday as well as the 40th anniversary of the country's independence from Britain. | His government recently organised a lavish $12m (£6.6m) party to celebrate the king's 40th birthday as well as the 40th anniversary of the country's independence from Britain. |
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