Mugabe defends ruthless crackdown on urban 'trash'

Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe defended the eviction of tens of thousands of informal traders and shack dwellers from city streets as a clean-up drive, and a two-day strike against the campaign got off to a slow start.

Many roads were quieter than usual in the capital, Harare, and other major centres yesterday. But banks, schools, shops and most other businesses were open as Zimbabweans apparently heeded police warnings not to participate in the protest.