Two Die In Police Attack On Maputo Rioters

Two Die In Police Attack On Maputo Rioters

Two people have been killed when police attacked demonstrators protesting rising food, fuel and cement prices in Maputo, the Mozambican capital.

Unconfirmed reports say police opened fire on thousands of demonstrators and that at least one of the victims was a child. Injuries were also reported.

The protesters, most of who were young men, threw stones at the police and blocked roads with burning tyres.

Currency depreciation

The authorities had earlier warned the protests would not be tolerated.

Shops were closed, and public transport came to a halt following Wednesday's clashes.

Mozambicans have seen the price of a loaf of bread rise by as much as 25 % as the value of the national currency, the metical, has fallen against the South African rand. Fuel and water prices have also risen.

In 2008, clashes between police and rioters over rising prices left at least four people dead and more than 100 injured.

The riots then forced the government to cancel plans to raise fuel prices.

BBC/AyoKoya/Yinka