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Maputo - Mozambique's government announced it would flood the capital Maputo with police and security forces to "smash" further protests over a hike in bus fees after police opened fire on a riot on Tuesday, killing one protestor and injuring several others.
Hundreds of thousands of Mozambicans took to the street of Maputo and nearby Matola town to protest a steep hike in commuter bus fares that was due to take effect on Tuesday.
Tensions mounted as some of the protestors began stoning passing cars and police and looting shops and warehouses.
A dpa correspondent witnessed police opening fire on a group of demonstrators in Maputo after they tried to set fire to tyres to block the road. A man fell to the ground after being hit and lay there lifeless in a pool of blood as others scrambled for cover.
| Police initially confirmed one person had been killed and several injured |
Police initially confirmed one person had been killed and several injured.
But addressing a press conference later Deputy Interior Minister Jose Mandra made no reference to the fatality, saying "what we have registered so far is nine people injured, one detained and six cars destroyed."
Mandra vowed the full force of the law would be used against anyone trying to undermine security and that the army would be called in to restore order if the protests continued.
"We will flood Maputo city (with security forces) to smash those attempting to protest," he vowed.
On January 31 the government announced bus fare increases of up to 50 percent after negotiations with commuter bus operators. - Sapa-dpa
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