Khartoum students burn building in riot over fees

KHARTOUM, Oct 9 (Reuters) – Khartoum students burned down a university building on Saturday in protest at high fees for halls of residence and armed police fired tear gas to disperse the demonstration, students and witnesses said.

One student said students had been locked out of their halls after failing to pay the fees demanded by the administration.

“They locked the doors but all our clothes and belongings were still inside and we have nowhere else to sleep,” said 21-year-old student Badreddin from White Nile state, who asked that his full name not be published.

“So the students got angry and set fire to the offices of the student support fund,” he said.

Mohamed, a student who also declined to give his family name, said between 50 and 100 armed police had fired tear gas into the crowd and beaten students with sticks to disperse the demonstration, and firemen used water hoses to put out the fire.

Police at the scene said no one was hurt in the disturbance, which began at about 5 p.m. local time (1400 GMT).

Police armed with sticks, tear gas canisters and guns guarded the burnt shell of the building in the evening.