Power vs. Authority

Power is the possession of authority and being capable of exerting force to accomplish something. Authority is power to enforce or influence a command or law. A professor would have authority over the classroom because he controls your behavior as well as assigns you work. A police officer would also have authority because they are able to enforce laws and be sure that they are carried out. Parents also have authority over their children because they have the right to tell them what to do and to make them obey rules. An actor has power (a famous actor) because it is at a more national level of influence. They have power over you, but not in an authoritative way, it is more of a manipulative way.
An example of power vs. authority can be seen in this news story-http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6252359.stm. In this story we see that there is somewhat of an absence of government, which would be the authority of the people, however, there is not a shortage of power. The power is seen through the troops that roam the streets to attempt to ensure some sense of security. But, as one man said,"I need peace; I need a government and I need employment." We see that a man of the community feels as though there is a lack of authority over the people, which even power cannot make up for.