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Malawi's Bingu wa Mutharika halts protesters' funeral Malawi anti-Mutharika protesters buried in Mzuzu
(about 2 hours later)
The authorities in Malawi have halted the mass funeral of seven protesters who were killed during this week's anti-government protests. Anti-government protesters killed in Malawi have been buried in a mass grave after the authorities initially refused to allow the funerals to go ahead.
President Bingu wa Mutharika ordered the Mzuzu city council to stop the funerals to avoid further unrest. The government had blocked the burial in the northern city of Mzuzu for fear of further unrest.
At least 18 people have died, many reportedly shot by police, in nationwide demonstrations.At least 18 people have died, many reportedly shot by police, in nationwide demonstrations.
Protesters accuse Mr Mutharika of plunging Malawi into its worst economic crisis since independence. Protesters accuse President Bingu wa Mutharika of causing the worst economic crisis since independence.
After the funerals were blocked, religious leaders and civil society members agreed to hold the funeral at the Heroes Acre in the northern city of Mzuzu. Prices have shot up, while there are shortages of fuel and foreign exchange after donors cut off aid, accusing Mr Mutharika of ignoring human rights.
But the head of Mzuzu's council said the protesters could not be buried at the Heroes Acre because they were looters. Moses Mkandawire, director of the Church and Society rights group, told AFP news agency that authorities had wanted the burials to take place individually in each person's home village.
"We have been stopped by the government with our arrangements to bury the seven heroes," Moses Mkandawire, director of the Church and Society rights group, told AFP news agency. The protest organisers had said those killed in Mzuzu should be buried in the city's Heroes Acre but this was rejected by local authorities, who said the dead had been "looters".
Graves had already been dug at Zolzolo cemetery and mourners had started gathering when the funerals were blocked, AFP reports.
Mr Mkandawire said the government itself had promised to arrange transportation for the bodies.Mr Mkandawire said the government itself had promised to arrange transportation for the bodies.
Some of the mourners insist they must bury their dead at the city's Heroes Acre.
Rising cost of livingRising cost of living
The protests began on Wednesday, with organisers saying Malawi was facing a "series of catastrophes".The protests began on Wednesday, with organisers saying Malawi was facing a "series of catastrophes".
There has been unrest in the capital, Lilongwe and the biggest city, Blantyre, as well as Mzuzu.There has been unrest in the capital, Lilongwe and the biggest city, Blantyre, as well as Mzuzu.
The country was facing rising prices and acute shortages of fuel, electricity and foreign currency, they said in a statement. The protest organisers accused the government of failing to listen to the concerns of people, and they feared Malawi was turning into an "autocratic kleptocracy".
They accused the government of failing to listen to the concerns of people, and they feared Malawi was turning into an "autocratic kleptocracy".
Mr Mutharika - who was elected in 2004 - said he was prepared to enter into dialogue with the opposition but they should stop "sending your boys" on the streets to cause chaos.Mr Mutharika - who was elected in 2004 - said he was prepared to enter into dialogue with the opposition but they should stop "sending your boys" on the streets to cause chaos.
"By allowing these people to demonstrate violently, have we solved our problems? Do we have fuel or forex [foreign exchange]? Is this democracy? Not so," he said in a national address on Thursday."By allowing these people to demonstrate violently, have we solved our problems? Do we have fuel or forex [foreign exchange]? Is this democracy? Not so," he said in a national address on Thursday.
Several buildings and businesses belonging to members of the security forces and government allies have been attacked during the violence.Several buildings and businesses belonging to members of the security forces and government allies have been attacked during the violence.
The government passed an austerity budget recently, raising taxes to reduce dependence on aid.The government passed an austerity budget recently, raising taxes to reduce dependence on aid.
Several donor countries have cut aid recently, accusing the government of mishandling the economy and not respecting human rights.Several donor countries have cut aid recently, accusing the government of mishandling the economy and not respecting human rights.
Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world, with an estimated 75% of the population living on less than $1 (60p) a day.Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world, with an estimated 75% of the population living on less than $1 (60p) a day.