A Dozen Killed in South African Riots

South African police opened fire on striking miners on Thursday afternoon, near a platinum mine near Lonmin. No confirmation has come of the number of dead, but it is at least a dozen.

Police had been demanding the miners hand over clubs, blades, and other weapons; but most refused and moved against the town.

Water cannons, tear gas, and stun grenades were deployed against the miners, who then rushed police. The officers responded by opening fire with live weapons, wounding many. After the chaos had settled, there were at least twelve bodies on the ground.

The strike began last Friday, with around three thousand workers taking up arms and refusing to work. Strikers attacked other miners who tried to work on Saturday. On Monday, two workers and two officers were killed by mobs of miners. Police killed three strikers in the fighting.