4 dead in Mozambique price riots

2010-09-01 14:26

Maputo - A private television station in Mozambique says four people including a child have been killed as police shot at protesters.

The S-TV station says the three adults were taken to hospitals, which declared them dead. The station says the child died but gave no details. Police could not immediately confirm the report.

Police opened fire on Wednesday on stone-throwing crowds who were protesting rising prices in this impoverished country.

Mozambicans have seen the price of a loaf of bread rise by 25%, from four to five meticais (from about 11c to about 13c) in the past year. Fuel and water prices also have risen.

Protests over high prices erupted into violence in Mozambique in 2008.

- AP