The three-day strike is scheduled to end three days before the expiration of the nationwide state of emergency.

The violence subsided only after the authorities imposed a nationwide state of emergency on June 12, 1986.

The nationwide state of emergency was lifted at 7 pm local time on 16 November 2007, in accordance to the parliament's decree passed two days earlier.

They had operated underground since a nationwide state of emergency was declared in June 1986.

Since then more than 2,500 people have been killed and last week a 12-month-old nationwide state of emergency was renewed.

About 2,300 people, most of them black, have been killed in the protests, and the Government imposed a nationwide state of emergency seven months ago.

Amid food riots and looting set off by inflation, Argentina declares a nationwide state of siege.

June 12 - South Africa declares a nationwide state of emergency.

But the demonstration also defied strict curbs on public protests under the 20-month-old nationwide state of emergency.

The tanks were gone in 24 hours, but days later, leaders did propose a nationwide state of emergency.