South African police fired rubber bullets at protesters and raided worker hostels at platinum giant Lonmin to seize weapons in a crackdown on unrest in the key mining industry Saturday. The army has been deployed as back-up to the troubled Rustenburg platinum belt where militant protests have forced several mine closures since officers gunned down 34 people last month at the London-listed company's Marikana mine. "The army has soldiers in Marikana deployed in request of the South African Police Service," Brigadier General Xolani Mabanga said. "We are there just to render support but the lead in the operation is the South African police." Forces moved into Marikana less than 24 hours after the government announced a security clampdown on the unrest that has forced three leading producers to halt mines on the world's richest platinum deposits. Soldiers were there to help with the police's cordon and search operation, said Mabanga. With no more than 150 military personnel on the ground they were not there to maintain law and order or for riot control, he added. Five hundred officers, assisted by the army, raided hostels at Lonmin's mine at 2:00 am (0000 GMT) seizing piles of metal rods, machetes and sticks. Later that morning, police fired tear gas to disperse gathering protesters, with clashes breaking out as workers regrouped and threw stones at officers amid the shacks opposite the mine.
