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South African police, protesters clash ahead of Obama visit

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1 of 4. Smoke hangs in the air after police used stun grenades in an attempt to disperse protesters outside the University of Johannesburg in Soweto, ahead of a visit by U.S. President Barack Obama, June 29, 2013.

Credit: Reuters/Dylan Martinez

JOHANNESBURG | Sat Jun 29, 2013 9:08am EDT

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South African riot police clashed with protesters in Soweto on Saturday shortly before a visit to the sprawling Johannesburg township by U.S. President Barack Obama, a Reuters photographer said.

Armed police fired stun grenades to disperse the crowd of several hundred protesters, who had gathered outside the Soweto campus of the University of Johannesburg, where Obama was due to address a town hall meeting with students.

(Reporting by Dylan Martinez; Writing by Ed Cropley)
Africa
 
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Comments (3)
MrAlltruth wrote:
Great, Africa’s own son goes home for a visit. While he’s there he should visit his birthplace.

Jun 29, 2013 9:03am EDT  --  Report as abuse
RonaldMartin wrote:
How long do we have to wait for a better understanding of what the demonstrators were protesting? The picture of flimsy protest signage seems to indicate a claim that Obama is not helping their cause, and that they believe that there is an oppressive world government. This then leads to reason that South African people still suffer, even with a black government. Is there anyplace on Earth that black people are living in peace and justice that black Americans claim that black people inherently posses?

Jun 29, 2013 9:46am EDT  --  Report as abuse
JHouse wrote:
We are told by the American propaganda media that South Africa is peace and harmony since majority black rule…the fact is, it is rife with tribal politics and corruption that has caused he economy to spiral downward.

Jun 30, 2013 11:20pm EDT  --  Report as abuse
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