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Mozambique police fire on protesters, killing two: AFP journalists / Photo: Amilton Neves - AFP
NYSE - LSE
Mozambique police fire on protesters, killing two: AFP journalists
Mozambique police Tuesday opened fire in the capital Maputo on a crowd marking a day of protest called by the main opposition leader, killing two people, witnesses and AFP journalists said.
It was the first major shutdown called by Venancio Mondlane in weeks, following months of deadly demonstrations after October presidential elections he claims were rigged in favour of President Daniel Chapo.
AFP photographs showed two bodies lying separately under blankets in pools of blood in the Matola area of Maputo.
An AFP photographer said police arrived to disperse the gathering and opened fire, killing two people, one of whom was shot in the head.
Two local civil society groups also said police had opened fire.
Mondlane came second in the presidential election, in which various international observer missions noted many irregularities.
He claims he was cheated of victory and called demonstrations in which more than 360 people were killed by police, according to local civil society group Plataforma Decide.
Earlier this month, at least 14 people were injured when police dispersed an opposition march with live ammunition.
Plataforma Decide confirmed one of Tuesday's deaths in a social media post that showed one of the bodies.
"According to a witness, the police chased the victims into the neighbourhood and shot them," the post said.
Mozambique's Centre for Democracy and Development said on social media that the police's Rapid Intervention Unit had fired live rounds at one of its teams covering protests in the city.
CDD human rights officer Andre Mulungo said people "were peacefully demonstrating when the police arrived, chased them and fired live bullets."
"We are tired of this," said an angry protestor, his face wrapped to hide his identity. "We have no jobs, nothing," he told AFP. "They're killing us, what are we going to do? They want blood?"
Chapo took office in mid-January. His Frelimo party has ruled Mozambique since independence from Portugal in 1975.
He was credited with 65 percent of ballots, compared with 24 percent for Mondlane.
But the opposition leader claims he won 53 percent, and rallied enough support to hand Frelimo its first real challenge in half a century.
A.Ferrara--INP
