SAfrica justice minister questions court action

JOHANNESBURG (AP) ? South Africa's justice minister is demanding the nation's top prosecutor explain a decision to charge 270 miners with the murders and attempted murders of 112 striking co-workers shot by the police.

The development indicates a split in government over whether to shift the blame for the shootings from the police to the miners. The Aug. 16 shootings that killed 34 and wounded 78 near a platinum mine were the worst display of state violence since apartheid ended in 1994.

The National Prosecuting Authority's decision to charge them under an apartheid-era law leaves the government open to accusations it is acting like the brutal white rulers.

Justice Minister Jeff Radebe said the decision "has induced a sense of shock, panic and confusion," leading him to seek clarity from the prosecutor.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2012-08-31-South%20Africa-Mining%20Violence/id-6673771d6a424a4e9ccb8f64d8f96555

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