SOUTHERN AFRICA: IRIN News Briefs
MOZAMBIQUE: RENAMO supporters killed in demo
At least seven people died on Thursday when police dispersed demonstrating
supporters of the opposition RENAMO party in central and northern
Mozambique, AFP said. The dispatch reported police spokesman Nataniel Macamo
as saying that three people died in the northern Cabo Delgado district of
Balama, three in Moma in the central province of Zambezia and one person in
Nampula city, capital of the northern Nampula province. Macamo said the
demonstrators were so aggressive the police had to use force to disperse
them.
The clashes occurred as RENAMO supporters came out on the streets to protest
the outcome of general elections held last year which the party alleged were
rigged. Mozambique's Supreme Court recently ruled that the governing FRELIMO
had won the elections fairly. FRELIMO's general secretary Manuel Tome on
Tuesday had urged Mozambicans not to take part in the anti-government
demonstrations planned by RENAMO, the former rebel movement. Although RENAMO
claimed that the protests were intended to be peaceful, Tome said their real
intention was to create unrest and force FRELIMO into sharing power.
"In fact, it is not the public who do not accept the election results," Tome
said. "Those who don't accept them are RENAMO and its leader, Afonso
Dhlakama."
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
