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Demonstrations over fuel shortages, inflation and unemployment target Malawian president Bingu wa Mutharika At least 18 people have been killed, officials say, in two days of public unrest in Malawi, an unlikely stage for one of the biggest anti-government protests in sub-Saharan Africa this year. The protests, sparked by worsening fuel shortages, rising prices and high unemployment in the southern African country, have seen calls for president Bingu wa Mutharika to step down. Malawi’s health ministry spokesman Henry Chimbali confirmed 10 deaths in the northern cities of Karonga and Mzuzu, where protesters ransacked the offices of Mutharika’s Democratic Progressive party (DPP) on Wednesday. The others died in the capital, Lilongwe, and the southern commercial hub of Blantyre after police and troops fired teargas to disperse crowds demanding that Mutharika quit. “These figures are based on those casualties that are coming through to the hospitals,” Chimbali told Reuters. “Some died in hospital, while some were brought by police already dead.” A further 41 people were injured, six critically, he added. The fierce crackdown in the normally peaceful nation is likely to intensify public anger against Mutharika. The campaign against him is led by a coalition of 80 groups which claim that Malawi is facing its worst shortages in 47 years of independence and is turning into an “autocratic kleptocracy”. The pressure has intensified this year since Britain, Malawi’s former colonial ruler and its biggest donor, indefinitely suspended aid to the country. This followed a diplomatic row over a leaked embassy cable referring to Mutharika as “autocratic and intolerant of criticism” that led to the expulsion of Britain’s ambassador to Lilongwe. In response, Britain expelled Malawi’s representative in London and suspended aid worth $550m over the next four years. As riot police confronted groups of young men in the capital, Mutharika took to the airwaves to appeal for calm, saying he was happy to hear the grievances of opponents who accuse him of ignoring civil liberties and ruining the economy. Mutharika, who came to power in 2004 and was re-elected in 2009, vowed to “ensure peace using any measure I can think of.” He demanded of the protesters: “If you break shops and banks, will you have fuel? You demonstrated yesterday and throughout the night until today, but is there fuel today because of the demonstrations? I think God will do something to help us, will bless us, because these people are not being led by God, they are being led by Satan.” But his words had little effect as offices and vehicles of the ruling party were torched. Scores of shops owned by locals and foreigners were looted, including some owned by Chinese expats. The police hit back hard, using live ammunition and killing at least four people on Thursday. Rights activist Moses Mkandawire, director of the group Church and Society of the Protestant Church of Central Africa Presybeterian, said the victims would be buried on Friday, in a ceremony likely to ignite emotions. “We are taking over the whole responsibility to bury our colleagues. The police are not doing anything,” he said. The “Arab spring” that has convulsed north Africa this year has been less evident south of the Sahara, although countries such as Uganda and Swaziland have witnessed street demonstrations. Political analyst Noel Mbowela said events in Malawi show “people have been baptised and every time they see something bad, they will always go into the streets”. Amnesty International said eight journalists were beaten by police during Wednesday’s protests, and a female radio reporter was seriously wounded. Amnesty researcher Simeon Mawanza said the president’s regime is becoming increasingly intolerant of dissenting voices. “The tension there won’t die down just because of yesterday’s events,” he told the Associated Press. “It could intensify, as people died at the hands of police.” Elections are not due again in Malawi until 2014, and Mutharika is barred from seeking a third term. Malawi, which gained independence from Britain in 1964, is among the world’s least developed nations and UNAIDS estimates there are 920,000 people living with HIV/AIDS here. Madonna, who has adopted two children from the country and plans to build schools there, said on Wednesday she hoped Malawi would find a peaceful way out of its troubles. “I am deeply concerned about the violence today in Malawi, especially the devastating impact on Malawi’s children,” Madonna told AP. “Malawi must find a peaceful solution to these problems that allows donors to have confidence that their money will be used efficiently.” Malawi Africa Protest Godfrey Mapondera David Smith guardian.co.uk