Sept. 15 (Bloomberg) -- Malawian civil-society groups plan to hold anti-government protests on Sept. 21 after United Nations-backed talks failed to resolve differences with President Bingu wa Mutharika’s administration, the groups said.

“We have seen the president promoting a culture of intimidation and direct attacks at civil society, an element that greatly undermines the essence of the dialog in question,” the Blantyre-based Council for Non-Governmental Organizations said in an e-mailed statement.

Clashes with police during protests in the southern African nation in July led to the deaths of 19 people.

To contact the reporter on this story: Frank Jomo in Blantyre at fjomo@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Gordon Bell at gbell16@bloomberg.net