Zimbabwe Police Break Up School Meeting on AIDS

On Friday in Zimbabwe's second-largest city of Bulawayo, riot police broke up a school meeting on AIDS, a witness told AFP. The event, an annual public speaking competition, was being attended by children from 30 secondary schools. Participants were expected to speak on the topic "Overcoming HIV/AIDS Stigma and Discrimination: A Youth's Dilemma," according to Innocent Ncube, an organizer. About 30 policemen used batons to break up the gathering of about 1,000 pupils. Seven people, including two teachers, were arrested, Ncube said, though no students were arrested or seriously injured. Ncube said police said the gathering was illegal under Zimbabwe's Public Order and Security Act.

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