20120207
AP
BLANTYRE, Malawi (AP) — Police in Malawi say they have fired tear gas to disperse stone-throwing vendors resisting orders they move off the streets to designated flea markets.

Lilongwe police spokesman Kingsley Dandaula described running battles early Monday, the deadline city officials had given vendors to move their tiny businesses to flea markets.

Dandaula says protesting vendors also blocked streets with large rocks and burning tires, and damaged some shops and cars before police got the situation under control. He says 42 people had been arrested by late afternoon and that he expected more arrests.