MAPUTO: Police in Mozambique fired teargas on Monday to disperse a small crowd in Maputo where shops were closed ahead of a planned protest against alleged electoral fraud. Sseveral dozen people, including journalists, scattered as heavily armed police walked down a main street, according to videos posted on social media and reporters at the scene. Opposition leader Venancio Mondlane, who ran for president in October 9 elections, called the protest to contest early results showing the ruling Frelimo party ahead. Tensions rose after two Mondlane associates were shot dead in Maputo on Saturday.
Lawyer Elvino Dias and Paulo Guambe, a candidate from the small Podemos party which backs Mondlane, were in a car that was surrounded by other vehicles and then they were shot dead, witnesses said. The head of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, said he had "deep concern" over "reported cases of post-election violence and in particular the recent killings." — AFP
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