S. AFRICAN VIGILANTES MARCH AGAINST DRUG LORDS

CAPE TOWN, March 22 (Reuters) - South African police fired teargas at
hundreds of militant Moslems on Sunday in a bid to break up an illegal
march against widespread gangsterism.

The violence comes just days before U.S. President Bill Clinton is due to
arrive in Cape Town as part of a six-country tour of Africa.

The People Against Gangsterism and Drugs (PAGAD) had permission to stage a
legal march against drug lords in the Cape Flats township -- a windswept
area which houses most of Cape Town's poor.

But the crowd, many with scarves wrapped around their faces, took an
unauthorised route after police said every protester had to submit to a
body search.

``Yes to Life. No to drugs,'' read a banner carried by female PAGAD
supporters, many clad in long black robes and head scarves.

The perimeter of the march was patrolled by over 300 officers and troops in
riot gear, supported by over 100 armoured vehicles.

``We have a constitutional right to march. This is apartheid policing,''
PAGAD coordinator Cassiem Parker told police.

On Saturday, four alleged gangsters were shot dead at the entrance to Cape
Town's trendy waterfront area where Clinton is expected to stay during his
stop in the city.

Clinton's 12-day African tour begins in Ghana on Monday and he is due to
arrive in Cape Town on Thursday where he will address South Africa's
parliament.

The Cape Flats, set behind Table Mountain, has seen a surge in gang
killings and revenge attacks in recent years by the Moslem militant movement.

PAGAD achieved notoriety in 1996 when its members lynched millionaire gang
leader Rashaad Staggie. His slow death was recorded on video and film and
seen around the world. No one has been convicted for the killing.