At least 10 shot dead in Mozambique post-election protests

Maputo - At least 10 people were shot dead and another 63 injured by gunfire during post-election protests in Mozambique last week, medical associations said on Wednesday, as the country braced for further demonstrations.

Protests broke out before and after Mozambique's electoral commission announced that ruling party Frelimo had won an Oct. 9 poll, extending its 49 years in power. Opposition candidates, civil society groups and observers said the election was rigged.

The electoral commission has declined to comment on allegations of fraud, while Frelimo did not reply to requests for comment.

Police responded to the protests with teargas and gunfire. Interior Minister Pascoal Ronda told reporters on Tuesday that the protests were violent and that security forces were compelled to restore public order, which resulted in deaths.

"In the period between Oct. 18th and 26th, 73 cases of shootings were recorded, resulting in 10 deaths," said a joint statement from the Medical Association of Mozambique and the Order of Doctors of Mozambique, which they posted on Facebook.

The real figures could be higher since many people did not report to hospitals, said Human Rights Watch, which independently confirmed 11 deaths and said that more than 50 people had suffered serious gunshot wounds.

Tensions rose in the post-election period after an opposition party lawyer and official were shot dead in their car three days after the vote. The U.S. government and others have called for an investigation.

Presidential candidate Venancio Mondlane, who came second in the official results but claims to be the true winner, has called for renewed demonstrations starting on Thursday for a week.

In the capital Maputo traffic was heavier than usual on Wednesday as people purchased food and other items in preparation for possible unrest in the days ahead.

Source: Reuters