Zambia students due in court after university closures

Twenty-six students are due to appear in court today in the Zambian capital, Lusaka, following their arrest during protests on Tuesday, the state-owned Zambia Daily Mail reports.

The government decided to close two of the country's leading universities indefinitely on Wednesday, after students rioted over unpaid meal allowances. 

Higher education minister Michael Kaingu said the government had closed the University of Zambia and Copperbelt University to protect people's lives and property, Reuters news agency reports. 

The minister said that the government had agreed to pay the outstanding money to students on Tuesday, but they had decided to continue protesting anyway.