Slain journalist's autopsy report missing

Almost two months after Carlos Cardoso, editor of the independent newssheet 'Metical' was gunned down on the streets of Maputo, the autopsy report has not been delivered to the investigating authorities, the Mozambican state news agency AIM reported on Monday. According to a letter from the spokesperson for the Attorney General's office, published in Friday's issue of the weekly paper 'Savana', missing from the case file is not only the autopsy, but also the medical examination of Cardoso's driver, Carlos Manjate, who survived the attack.

The Attorney General's spokesperson said the autopsy report had not been handed over due to a dispute over payment. Police in Maputo told journalists from Metical last week that there had been no breakthrough in the case and nobody had been arrested in connection with the murder. Cardosa had a reputation as a committed investigative journalist and observers alleged many powerful people in Mozambique wanted him silenced.