General Strike Held; Street Protests Quashed

A general strike shut down much of Zimbabwe’s already crippled economy, but security forces prevented efforts to organize massive street protests against President Robert Mugabe. Most banks, shops and other businesses remained closed across the troubled southern African country on the second day of a show of anti-government sentiment. Security forces reacted swiftly to crush street demonstrations, using rubber clubs, rifle butts, water cannons, tear gas and warning shots to disperse crowds.