ZIMBABWEAN riot police are guarding the headquarters of President Robert Mugabe’s ruling Zanu(PF) party in the capital Harare on Wednesday, a day after running battles with scores of demonstrating war veterans. At least 14 veterans were arrested after police fired teargas to disperse stone-throwing protesters blockading the headquarters to demand compensation for their role in the independence war of the 1970s. Several senior members of the ruling party were trapped in the building for some 40 minutes before police managed to disperse the veterans, who are claiming Z$500000(about $13000) each. Some 50000 veterans were given gratuities of Z$50000 and lifetime pensions two years ago, after staging a series of embarrassing demonstrations against Mugabe, whom they helped bring to power in 1980.
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