Botswana police fire tear gas on rioting students

GABORONE, Botswana – Police in Botswana fired tear gas on rioting students angry over a teachers' strike.

Teachers' union secretary Justin Hunyepa says the students rioted in Molepolole, some 30 miles (50 kilometers) outside Gaborone, on Friday. He says 95 percent of teachers are on strike nationwide.

Students in southern Botswana have also rioted or are also refusing to attend classes.

Civil servants, whose last raise was in 2008, are demanding a 16 percent increase. The government is offering five percent, saying the diamond-dependent economy is still recovering from the global recession.

Public service department director Festinah Bakwena says the unions said they were prepared to lower their salary adjustment demand to 13.8 percent.