President awaits further info on prison deaths

Mozambican President Joaquim Chissano is awaiting the results of further investigations into the prison deaths of scores of opposition demonstrators before taking an official position, Lusa reported on Wednesday. “Everything indicates there are some responsibilities to be determined,” Chissano said.

As many as 83 people jailed in the wake of opposition protests in the northern town of Montepuez, died in the town’s prison on the night of 22 November.

The country needed a more rigorous police and judicial system, he added. Questioned by journalists, Chissano said he only had an autopsy report indicating 75 prisoners had died from “mixed asphyxia”, or suffocation. He said he might take a public position after getting the results of additional investigations. A Mozambican-South African forensic team issued their report last week after performing 35 autopsies in Montepuez.

Opposition chief Afonso Dhlakama has said that the deaths in Montepuez were acts of “revenge” by local police, who suffered six killed and six injured in clashes with demonstrators on 9 November. At least 18 opposition supporters died in the Montepuez confrontation. More than 40 people died in clashes on that day nationwide as police opened fire to disperse opposition crowds protesting against allegedly fraudulent elections last year. Hundreds were wounded or injured, and hundreds arrested.