Mozambique cops to stamp out riots

2010-09-06 12:19

Maputo - Mozambican police on Monday deployed across impoverished neighbourhoods in the capital Maputo to prevent fresh protests over food prices, after 10 people died in three days of rioting last week.

Over the weekend, text messages circulated through the city to urge Mozambicans to return to the streets on Monday, prompting police to fan out through the city as businesses cautiously opened their doors.

Police patrolled the city centre, while trucks transported officers to outlying areas that saw some of the worst violence last week.

"We did not have any incidents over the weekend, but there are rumours that people will return to the streets on Monday to continue rioting," Maputo police spokesperson Arnaldo Chefo said.

"Now we have deployed all our forces on the ground so that we can get the situation under control as soon as possible. But right now we have no sign suggestion that it will erupt again," said Chefo.

On Wednesday riots erupted around Maputo as people blocked roads with burning tyres in protest at high fuel and food prices.

Rioting spread to several towns in central parts of the country, resulting is deadly clashes with the police with 159 people arrested and about 450 injured.

- SAPA