RASTAFARIANS DISRUPT COURT PROCEEDINGS

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (PANA) - Chaos broke out in the
Pietermaritzburg Magistrate's Court on Thursday afternoon, when a
group of rastafarians stripped naked, hurled abuse at court officials
and threatened to urinate in the court.

The group were dressed in plastic bags and blankets, and were carrying
marijuana plants which they said they were permitted to own.

According to the Natal Mercury newspaper, leader Peter Tosh, his wife
Mystic Tosh, and their children Jeffrey Tosh, Herbalist Tosh and
Prince Tosh had been charged for possessing marijuana which is a
criminal offence in South Africa.

The group earlier informed the magistrate that they rejected the
notion that marijuana is an illegal substance and demanded their release.

They demanded to be released and then jumped onto the seats in the
dock when court officials attempted to subdue them.

The children in the group were released but they refused to go home.
The case was postponed and the entire group is in custody.