Maputo - A senior member of Mozambique's main opposition party Renamo and a negotiator in key peace talks with the government was shot dead by unidentified gunmen, his party said on unday.
The announcement of Jeremias Pondeca's death came on the eve of the resumption of stalled negotiations.
The 55-year-old was a member of a joint commission established to find ways to end a standoff between the government and Renamo.
"Once yet again, one of our members has fallen to bullets fired by the enemies of democracy," Renamo said in a statement, adding that he was killed on Saturday.
Renamo, which previously waged a 16-year civil war that ended in 1992, has refused to accept the results of 2014 elections when it was beaten once more by the ruling Frelimo party, in power since the former Portuguese colony's independence 40 years ago.
Renamo has in past few years staged a string of deadly attacks in the country as it fights to make its voice heard and for a greater share of power.
The peace talks, which have been suspended for 10 days, were due to resume on Monday. The negotiations have broken down several times in the past.
