Businesses in many of Malawi's main cities were closed Wednesday as police patrolled the streets at the start of a three-day anti-government strike that some fear could spark more deadly violence in the southern African nation.

Civil society activists decided to call for the strike after abandoning their plans for street protests. Activists say local authorities proclaimed the street protests to be illegal, and said they would not guarantee the safety of the demonstrators.

Police are out in full force on Wednesday in Malawi's main cities of Lilongwe, Blantyre and Mzuzu, but there have been no reports of unrest.

In July, security forces opened fire on anti-government protesters in Malawi's three main cities, killing 19 people. Some of the demonstrations had degenerated into looting.

The demonstrators were protesting fuel shortages, rising prices and eroding civil liberties. They have also called on President Bingu wa Mutharika to declare his wealth.

The United States froze a $350 million aid package to Malawi in response to the violence.

Former colonial power Britain also suspended aid earlier this year because of a diplomatic dispute, stemming from a leaked cable in which the British ambassador said President Mutharika is “autocratic and intolerant of criticism.”