- Navalny memoirs spark mix of curiosity, indifference in Moscow
- Modi calls for quick end to Ukraine conflict in talks with Putin
- Ukraine peace talks, NATO invite may hinge on US elections, Zelensky says
- Leipzig players 'not yet talking' about Klopp, says Openda before Liverpool tie
- IMF predicts slightly slower global growth in 2024 and 2025
- US interest rate, election uncertainy hit stock market sentiment
- Guardiola applauds Man City mentality ahead of Sparta Prague test
- San Siro saga continues as Inter and AC Milan propose new stadium project
- French luxury brand Chanel to sponsor Oxford v Cambridge Boat Race
- Flick calm despite Barca's dire Bayern record
- Kenya court hears challenge to deputy leader's impeachment
- Women footballers call on FIFA to drop Saudi Aramco as sponsor
- Mozambican opposition leader says security forces killed his lawyer
- Modi calls for quick end to Ukraine conflict in meeting with Putin
- Stock markets diverge tracking US outlook
- Snyman returns for Springboks' November internationals
- Bangladesh battle at 101-3 as South Africa threaten innings defeat
- Over 250 women in talks with Harrods over Al-Fayed claims
- England pick Ahmed as third spinner for deciding Pakistan Test
- Verreynne century puts South Africa on top, Bangladesh 19-2 at tea
- Navalny's tomb 'covered with fresh flowers every day': widow
- Schauffele targets more success in Japan after major breakthroughs
- Rare Tintin albums go under the hammer in Paris
- Blinken in Israel to push for Gaza truce
- Most markets fall as traders weigh US rates outlook
- Harris and Trump push for every vote with just 14 days to go
- Hyundai Motor India shares dip on debut after record IPO
- South Africa 243-8 at lunch, lead Bangladesh by 137
- Apple CEO visits China for second time this year as sales slump
- Glasgow confirmed as host of 10-sport 2026 Commonwealth Games
- 'Serious business': influencer degree launches in Ireland
- In South Africa, water shortages are the new reality
- Frontline Ukraine cafe offers glimpse of normality as war rages
- In Mozambique, cigars 100% made in Africa
- North Korea UN representative denies Pyongyang sent troops to Russia
- Leipzig host Liverpool under Klopp's looming shadow
- Harvey Weinstein diagnosed with bone marrow cancer: US media
- King Charles caps Australia trip with 'barbie' and Opera House bash
- Tuipulotu named All Blacks captain to face Japan
- Is Musk's million-dollar US voter lottery legal?
- Britain seeking EU trade reset: minister
- Most Asian markets drop as traders weigh US rates outlook
- Wealthy Israelis offer rewards for release of Gaza hostages
- China launches live-fire exercise in Taiwan Strait
- Putin seeks to rival West with high-profile summit
- New Zealand's Williamson out of second India Test
- League convert Suaalii in Wallabies squad for Europe, Skelton returns
- Unsung heroes who saved 1,000 children from Rwanda genocide
- Rwanda orphans build hope from horror 30 years after genocide
- Brest in dreamland after perfect start to debut Champions League campaign
RBGPF | 3.66% | 61.75 | $ | |
GSK | -0.66% | 37.911 | $ | |
AZN | -0.65% | 76.94 | $ | |
CMSC | -0.08% | 24.63 | $ | |
BP | 0.47% | 31.62 | $ | |
NGG | -1.56% | 66 | $ | |
RIO | 0.49% | 65.27 | $ | |
BTI | 1.3% | 34.7 | $ | |
RELX | -1.33% | 47.005 | $ | |
SCS | -0.16% | 12.87 | $ | |
RYCEF | -1.23% | 7.31 | $ | |
VOD | -0.68% | 9.565 | $ | |
CMSD | -0.16% | 24.83 | $ | |
BCC | -1.37% | 136.035 | $ | |
JRI | -0.19% | 13.125 | $ | |
BCE | -0.41% | 33.255 | $ |
Mozambican opposition leader says security forces killed his lawyer
The main opposition candidate in Mozambique's contested general election on Tuesday accused security forces of killing his lawyer, as European Union observers cast doubt on the vote.
Tensions mounted ahead of the release, possibly on Wednesday, of preliminary results from the October 9 presidential and parliamentary polls.
They are expected to show that Frelimo, the party that has governed the southern African nation for the past half a century, is in the lead.
"This was a crime committed by the defence and security forces. There's no doubt about it. The special forces killed Elvino," said Venancio Mondlane, who ran for president as an independent with the backing of the small Podemos party.
Lawyer Elvino Dias was travelling in a car in the centre of the capital, Maputo, with Paulo Guambe, another ally of Mondlane's, when they were ambushed and shot dead overnight on Friday to Saturday.
In a video posted on Facebook, Mondlane accused the security forces of firing at Dias 25 times.
Dias's funeral is expected to take place on Wednesday.
Police said it had launched an investigation into the killings, which Frelimo "vehemently" condemned as the "macabre act".
The European Union, the United States, the African Union and the United Nations have all condemned the killings and urged the authorities to identify the perpetrators.
Election observers from the EU have also raised concern about the legitimacy of the polls, noting "irregularities during counting and unjustified alteration of election results at polling station and district level".
They urged the authorities to conduct the ballot count "in a transparent and credible manner, ensuring the traceability of polling station results".
- General strike -
Official results are still pending from the presidential and parliamentary races.
A spokesperson for the electoral commission who spoke to AFP could not give a firm date for the release of the results but it could be on Wednesday according to the electoral calendar.
Electoral violence is not uncommon in Mozambique. Last year, several people were killed in clashes after Frelimo won municipal elections.
Mondlane, who has already claimed victory, was among a group of several hundred protesters dispersed by police with tear gas on Monday, after he had called for a general strike.
The 50-year-old former radio presenter has urged supporters to again "paralyse the country" on Thursday and Friday over what he predicted would be "profoundly false" results.
The EU has called for "utmost restraint by all" in Mozambique, while the US State Department urged people to "reject violence" and "to turn to peaceful means of filing electoral grievances".
"The only means to challenge results and demand accountability is through the official complaint process," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement.
President Filipe Nyusi, 65, is stepping down after his two terms allowed by the constitution but his party's candidate, 47-year-old Daniel Chapo, was widely expected to win the election.
Frelimo has governed the southern African country of 33 million for half a century.
T.Ward--AMWN