The New Nation - Internet Edition

BBC News

At least 2,000 boarding school children are being used as human shields by demonstrators in Cameroon.

Thousands of protesters went into three schools in Bamenda in the north-west to escape police pursuing them after violent demonstrations overnight.

There have been days of protests across the country, sparked by a taxi-driver strike over a fuel price rise.

President Paul Biya has blamed the opposition for violence which has left at least seven dead.

It's a miserable situation and the government has not addressed this

SDF's John Fru Ndi

Opposition groups have been calling for protests to stop the constitution being amended to allow Mr Biya to run for re-election when his current term expires in 2011.

John Fru Ndi of the opposition Social Democratic Front, denied being behind the unrest but he said he could understand the frustrations felt by Cameroonians because of the high cost of living.

"It's a miserable situation and the government has not addressed this," he told the BBC's Network Africa programme.

"The people have no other alternative than to express themselves by marching on the streets to draw government's attention to issues affecting their everyday lives."

Trapped The BBC's Randy Joe Sa'ah in Douala says the protests nationwide are continuing and the trade unions who called the strike, which was called off 24 hours ago, now seem unable to get the people off the streets.

Two post offices were razed to the ground overnight in Bamenda by demonstrators who were then chased by police.

The protestors have taken up positions at three boarding schools in the city to stop police throwing tear gas canisters at them.

While most schools have been closed all week, boarding school pupils have been unable to get home because transport has been at a standstill, our reporter says.

In Douala, there are still no taxis or motorcycles on the streets and all markets are closed.

Our correspondent says people do not seem to have received Mr Biya's comments well - and are angered that he did not address the issue of the cost of living.

Groups of angry youths carrying flags and placards have attempted to block off roads with barricades in the city and are involved in a game of cat and mouse with the police.

Some of the placards call for further price reductions and denounce plans to change the constitution.

In the capital, Yaounde, there is a heavy military deployment and the situation remains tense.