Students riot in Zimbabwe

HARARE, Zimbabwe -- Paramilitary riot police have fought running battles on the streets of Harare with hundreds of protesters angered by the killing of a university student at the weekend.

"Police fired tear gas and the students retaliated with stones," an unnamed lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe's Harare campus told the Associated Press.

The students were protesting at the killing on Saturday of Lameck Chemvura, 22.

A petition circulated by the students' union said: "The Zimbabwe National Army is now a terrorist organisation. This is a clear declaration of war against students and the rest of Zimbabweans."

It called for the resignation of President Robert Mugabe, 77, who is commander-in-chief of the army.

Last week, riot police broke up a protest over government plans to tighten electoral rules.

Police armed with shotguns, tear gas canisters, shields and batons surrounded the parliament building in Harare before the demonstration about the draft legislation.

Critics say the draft law is tailored to favour Mugabe ahead of next year's presidential poll.

Witnesses said Chemvura was strangled with a shoelace and then thrown out the window of a moving train by up to six soldiers.

The student had been accused of supporting the opposition Movement for Democratic Change.

Police spokesman Wayne Bvudzijena said Chemvura's killing took place during a brawl and was not politically motivated.

Bvudzijena told the state-controlled daily, The Herald, one soldier had been arrested and charged with Chemvura's murder.

The National Constitutional Assembly, an alliance of civic groups pressing for reform ahead of presidential polls due early next year, had planned to demonstrate outside the legislature on Tuesday.

A protest they planned last Wednesday was broken up by police. The NCA protesters were unable to approach parliament and dispersed.