Cell death toll rises

The death toll among detainees in the northern Mozambican town of Montepeuz has risen to 75, state radio quoting police sources, said on Friday. The government daily ‘Noticias’ reported that more than 80 inmates had died in police custody in the town, which had been the scene of violent clashes between the RENAMO opposition and the police earlier in the month. On Thursday, Prime Minister Pascoal Mocumbi told a press conference that between 50 and 70 prisoners had died mysteriously, saying there were no signs of violence. News reports said all of the dead were opposition supporters jailed after the political clashes in Montepeuz in which 30 people, including six policemen, were killed. Meanwhile, a team of seven Mozambican pathologists have already started their investigation. They are expected to be joined by a South African team of pathologists, as well as experts from the United Nations, EU and the Commonwealth, invited by the Mozambican government.