Riots have erupted following the death of former Zambian President Michael Sata. A portrait of Sata is seen next to his coffin at Mulungushi Centre in Lusaka, Zambia, on Saturday, Nov,1, 2014.(Photo: Moses Mwapwe, AP)




LUSAKA, Zambia (AP) — Demonstrators fought police in Zambia in protests against the acting president, a white Zambian who fired the ruling party chief following the death last week of President Michael Sata.


The riots occurred late Monday in several places in the Zambian capital of Lusaka, including the University of Zambia and a government building designated as a place for Sata mourners to gather, according to witnesses. Protesters had descended on the building, Belvedere Lodge, with stones, machetes and other weapons, and police fired tear gas into the venue to clear demonstrators from the area.


The protesters were angry over the decision by acting president, Guy Scott, to dismiss Edgar Lungu, the ruling party's general secretary.


Lungu, who remains defense and justice minister, said his dismissal is illegal and accused Scott, a white Zambian of Scottish descent, of "insulting our culture."


Under the constitution, Zambia must hold a presidential election within 90 days of a president's death. Former Vice President Scott, who has said he is not interested in running for president, is in any case barred from the office because his parents were not Zambian by birth or descent. Lungu has been considered a possible presidential candidate from the ruling Patriotic Front party.


Sata, 77, died Oct. 28 in a London hospital after a long illness. His body arrived in Lusaka on Saturday and was taken to a conference center for public viewing until the burial on Nov. 11. The conference center has not been affected by the rioting.


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