The International Monetary Fund should be helping impoverished Swaziland, not calling for budget cuts, King Mswati III said on Wednesday.

Security forces and protesters clashed in two towns on Wednesday during a week of planned protests demanding an end to Swaziland’s absolute monarchy.

A protest sparked by Swaziland’s plans to freeze civil service salaries drew nearly 7 000 demonstrators on Friday.

Police outnumbered about 250 democracy activists on Tuesday as they marched for several hours during a largely peaceful demonstration in Swaziland.