3 wounded in Mozambique police-opposition standoff

At least three persons were wounded Thursday in a standoff between Mozambican police and the main opposition party Renamo in the northern province of Nampula. According to the provincial police spokesperson, Inacio Dina, 22 former guerrillas of Renamo headed by Afonso Dlhakama were arrested with five firearms apprehended. Gunshot was heard in the standoff wounding at least three persons, including two from Renamo and one police officer, Dina told the state television TVM. Dina said Renamo militants opened fire when a group of police was about to replace another one. According to the police, calm has returned although tensions remain with local residents being warned not to leave their homes. This is the first time gunshot was reported in a confrontation between the former rebel movement Renamo and the police since the peace agreement was signed in 1992 in Rome, Italy, putting an end to 16 years of a brutal civil war. On Wednesday, religious leaders in Nampula appealed to the Renamo leader for peace and not to destroy the tranquillity preserved for 20 years. More than 400 former militants of Renamo are gathering in front of the house of their leader Dlhakama, who is calling on his supporters to participate in a peaceful demonstration against the ruling Frelimo party for political and economic reasons. The demonstrations were supposed to be held in December, but they were postponed to a date to be announced yet. Since then, the former militants have never left the concentration area.