Riot fears prompt Belgian town to ban gatherings

The mayor of Lokeren in northern Belgium issued a special decree yesterday banning people from gathering in groups of more than five. The move follows days of unrest in Brussels sparked off after police fatally shot an alleged Moroccan drugs dealer on Friday.

Hundreds of mainly North African immigrant youths have clashed with armed police, smashing windows and overturning cars in Brussels, and the disturbances have spread outside the capital. On Monday night, immigrant youths in Lokeren pelted police with stones and overturned a patrol car..

- Reuters, Brussels