The riots which have hit Cameroon since Monday following the strike by taxi drivers have spread to Yaounde, the political capital. About 12 persons have been killed since the beginning of the strike, which triggered the rioting in Douala, the country’s economic capital, independent sources said. On Wednesday morning, violence spread to Yaounde, where taxis were briefly back on the streets following the announcement the day before of small reductions in prices of fuel products – which sparked off the strike in the first instance. The situation rapidly escalated when groups of vandals took to the streets, erected barricades and burnt old tyres in several districts of the town. According to the private television channel, Canal 2, two persons were killed in the districts of Biyem Assi and Carrière. The government has insinuated that the opposition was behind the violence. Observers have expressed the fear that demonstrations and counter-demonstrations in the country could snowball into a political crisis, as supporters of the opposition and the ruling party clash may eventually clash. Panapress .
