Police have been accused of a massacre after opening fire on mine workers in one of the deadliest days of protest in South Africa since the end of apartheid.
National television showed pictures of police in helmets and body armour shooting at workers on Thursday amid shouting, panic and clouds of dust at Lonmin's Marikana platinum mine. After three minutes of gunfire, bodies littered the ground in pools of blood.
The South African police ministry said more than 30 striking miners had been killed.Speaking to local radio, police minister Nathi Mthethwa confirmed the death toll, adding: "A lot of people were injured and the number keeps on going up."
Zweli Mnisi, the police ministry spokesman, said an investigation into the shooting has begun.
As it was mentioned earlier the incident is one of the bloodiest police operations since the end of the apartheid in South Africa.The protest and ensuing violence at the platinum mine, which began a week ago, had earlier killed at least 10 people there, including two police officers. It has also drastically affected production at the mine.
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