In the largest protest against the long-ruling Frelimo party, which was proclaimed the victor of contested elections last month, police in Mozambique have used tear gas on demonstrators.
Since election officials announced that Frelimo had won the poll on October 9 and had extended its 49-year rule, anger has grown. According to human rights organizations, the police crackdown on protesters since then has resulted in the deaths of at least 18 individuals.
Many young people backed independent presidential candidate Venancio Mondlane, who claimed the vote was manipulated and planned for a week of protests that ended on Thursday, in the fiercely disputed general election. Western observers and civil society organizations also claimed that the election was rigged and that the results were manipulated.
