Police in Mozambique blame 'foreign funders' for on going protests

MAPUTO, Mozambique

The Mozambican police have accused local and foreign civil society organizations of "financing and orchestrating" the post-election protests that have paralyzed the southern African nation.

Senior Commander Fernando Tsucan has said that the demonstrators are taking advantage of the right of protest to engage in subversive acts of terror paralyzing businesses in the country.

“Demonstrators are ‘taking advantage’ of the right of protest to engage in subversive acts of terror.” Tsucan said, warning foreign residents against participating in activities that could be deemed unlawful or interfering with the country's internal affairs.

Senior Commander Fernando Tsucan

The runner-up in October's presidential election, Venancio Mondlane, has again called for another round of protests to "shutdown Maputo", as outgoing President Filipe Nyusi appealed for an end to the violence.

Attacks on police posts and buildings belonging to the ruling Frelimo party have reportedly increased as the authorities become more aggressive in their crackdown on the protests, killing more than 85 people.

Meanwhile, the ruling party - Frelimo has been pushing for the early validation of the election results by the Constitutional Council, urging it not to yield to pressure from protesters, who built several mock graves with the names and photographs of key Frelimo figures.