Swazi trade unionists won a court order yesterday allowing pro-democracy protests on the fringes of an international meeting in Swaziland aimed at forming partnerships between developing nations.

The mass action by the Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions (SFTU) has overshadowed the Global 2003 Smart Partnership International Dialogue, convened by the Commonwealth Partnership for Technology Management (CPTM).

Demonstrations turned violent Wednesday when police tried to prevent unionists from marching by firing teargas and rubber bullets, injuring seven people.

The SFTU and a Mbabane hospital reported that a protester had been beaten to death by Swazi police, but the government and police fiercely denied this.

The trade union yesterday asked the court to order the police to allow further demonstrations on the sidelines of the summit, which started Wednesday and ends tomorrow.

"The respondents (the police) are interdicted and restrained from interfering with peaceful protest action embarked upon by the applicants (the SFTU)," Judge President Ndri Nduma of the Mbabane High Court ruled.

"However, the applicants must proceed with their protest action in a peaceful and orderly manner and will forfeit this right if they have any weapons in their possession".

Swaziland's minister of enterprise and employment, Lufta Dlamini, told but peaceful.

"They were very violent and forceful," he said.

CPTM chairperson Omar Abdul Rahman expressed disappointment that the trade unions were not participating in the dialogue.

"There may be disgruntled groups here, but there is no use in saying that over there. Rather come in, listen, talk and discuss each other's perceptions," Rahman said.

He said the idea behind the "Smart Partner" dialogue was for developing countries to look at global issues affecting them, and discuss how to understand and overcome these matters.

The union's list of grievances include the Swazi government's refusal to accept and enforce orders by the Appeal Court.

The organisation is also demanding that King Mswati drop plans to buy a luxury private jet while his country is facing an economic crisis, exacerbated by a high HIV/AIDS rate.

The SFTU is enjoying support from the Congress of South African Trade Unions, who have participated in demonstrations at the border between South Africa and Swaziland, but did not succeed in blocking travellers from entering Swaziland.

Meanwhile some 600 delegates and several heads of state - including Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe who has been suspended from the Commonwealth - participated in dialogue on safety issues yesterday, conference spokesperson Elly Tumwine said.

"The main point of discussion was global security.

We decided we need to speak out with one voice against unilateral decisions that violate international rules and regulations, especially the United Nations," Tumwine told reporters.

South African Deputy President Jacob Zuma reiterated the need for developing nations to ensure their own security.

"The actions of the African Union regarding peacekeeping and peacemaking actions are legitimised by the UN Security Council," Zuma said.

"The UN must be strengthened to make it cope with the demands of the time.

We need to restore the credibility of the UN as nations of the world".

Swaziland's King Mswati III welcomed delegates, including the heads of state of Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia and Zimbabwe at a lavish function Wednesday evening, saying he hoped the event would help Swazis to find a balance between tradition and modernity.

The absolute monarch is a staunch traditionalist with ten wives.

The 35-year-old king is known as the "lion" and wields virtually unchallenged power as he rules the country - where political parties have been banned since 1973 - by decree. – Sapa-AFP.