Police in Zimbabwe fired tear gas and water cannon to disperse scores of opposition supporters demanding fair elections next year.

Around 100 young supporters of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) took to the streets of Harare on Wednesday to protest against what they say are plans by the country’s electoral body to ensure a victory for 93-year-old President Robert Mugabe.

Riot police attempted to stop protesters from marching in the city centre, firing tear gas canisters and water at activists and shoppers from police trucks.

Some young people set fire to cardboard on the streets but police quickly doused the flames with water.

“Heavily armed police officers brutally crushed our peaceful demonstration,” MDC youth secretary general Lovemore Chinoputsa said in a statement.

source: Aj