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General News of Thursday, 24 April 2003

Source: GNA

Dusk-to-dawn curfew imposed on Dagbon

A dusk-to-dawn curfew has been imposed in the Dagbon Traditional Area with immediate effect following the clashes in Tamale, which could spread to other areas in the area. The Minister of the Interior, Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyemang, told reporters in Accra that the curfew would run from 1800 to 0600 hours. He said he has signed a proclamation for the curfew to be imposed.

A Junior Secondary School graduate was shot dead and his body burnt in renewed clashes between New Patriotic Party (NPP) and National Democratic Congress (NDC) youths in Tamale on Wednesday.

A brother of the deceased told the Police in presence of the GNA that the victim, Master Gazali Fuseini, 18, was reading when he heard shouts that he was under attack and in an attempt to run away, he was shot by unknown assailants who later set his body ablaze. Several houses and an NPP campaign van were also burnt.

The cause of the violence was not immediately known but it was believed to be linked to Tuesday's clash between the youth of the two parties. Business activities in the Tamale Municipality had virtually come to a halt as a result of the confusion with several commuters stranded at the lorry station.

A joint Police/Military team had earlier arrested one Osman Mohammed believed to be among the combatants. During a search on him, they found a talisman, an axe and a knife.

Arrests

The Police in Tamale have so far arrested 88 persons suspected to be involved in the communal violence which started in Tamale on Tuesday.

The Police told the GNA on Wednesday that they were taking statements from the suspects. He said a combined police/military team was working around the clock to bring the situation in the municipality under control.