Riot in Sierra Leone Over Midget No-Show

AP/Yahoo ^ | 12/6/03 | CLARENCE ROY-MACAULAY

[martin_fierro]

Riot in Sierra Leone Over Midget No-Show

Sat Dec 6, 2:32 PM ET

By CLARENCE ROY-MACAULAY, Associated Press Writer

FREETOWN, Sierra Leone - Thousands of fans rioted at Sierra Leone's national stadium Saturday when authorities substituted two local dwarf comedians for a widely anticipated out-of-town midget duo. Police arrested 30 people, amid damage and dozens of injuries.

Daylong radio ads had whipped up excitement and ticket sales for Friday night's scheduled performance by the two Nigerian entertainers, Aki and Paw Paw.

The Nigerian performers failed to show by early morning. Organizers put the two local dwarf comedians on the stage instead.

Fans rioted, throwing projectiles and smashing windows, light fixtures and hundreds of chairs.

Witnesses said police fired tear gas. Authorities said 30 people were arrested, including eight who allegedly had tried to steal the stadium's seats.

Dozens of show-goers were reported injured in the melee. Saturday, blood splattered parts of the stadium.

Acting President Solomon Berewa, filling in while President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah is at a Commonwealth summit in Nigeria, toured the riot site Saturday and condemned the violence.

Sierra Leone's National Stadium was built as a gift from China. The stadium was under repairs for damage from the West African nation's devastating 10-year rebellion, ended in January 2002.

[martin_fierro]

"Hey, those aren't midgets! THOSE ARE DWARVES!"

[Kenny Bunk]

Jeez, I hate when this happens. Gives all midgets a bad name.

[martin_fierro]

Teeny-weenie ping.

[cyborg]

LOL

[xsmommy]

why you always picking on the little guy?

[Rocko]

Some people just have short tempers.

[tet68]

Don't crush that dwarf, hand me the pliers!

Never send in a dwarf to do a midgets job.

[GeronL]

Such an advanced and peaceful civilization

[PeteFromMontana]

" out-of-town midget duo"

___________________

Typical of those 9, they just can't seem to get together on anything.

BTW, don't forget the good Reverand on SNL tonight.

[martin_fierro]

The dwarves got tossed.

[billorites]

There's a Howard Dean joke in here somewhere...

[tet68]

Not the sort of comedians I usually go for.

[WackyKat]

Daylong radio ads had whipped up excitement and ticket sales for Friday night's scheduled performance by the two Nigerian entertainers, Aki and Paw Paw.

As I've said for years, there's nothing funnier than a Nigerian dwarf comedy team

[Davea]

I read that during the confusion of the riot someone tried to pick the pocket of one of the dwarfs. How could anyone stoop so low?

[xsmommy]

Bet he's an angry elf (you have to see that movie...)who just needs a hug. : )

[small voice in the wilderness]

I know I shouldn't....but...BWHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

Mickey says: "Hey, haven't you people ever heard of a funny dwarf? Ehh, s**ew you, too. I got your moon righthere. bas*ards..."

[Consort]

What's next, pygmies?

[Semi Civil Servant]

I'd be mad, too, if I'd paid good money and got "short changed".

[martin_fierro]

The Nigerian performers failed to show by early morning.

They were stranded in ... Nome.

[Live free or die]

Listen I only have very little tolerance for this kind of mockery. My temper is quite short when it comes to jokes that belittle us all!