Mozambican minister decries riots in Maputo as illegal

The Mozambican Interior Minister José Pacheco decried on Wednesday that the riots in the country's capital Maputo is illegal.

He reiterated that the country's constitution gives rights for all the citizens to protest as long they approach to the authorities requesting to do so.

Nevertheless, no similar request was issued to the ministry authorities, and this riot constitutes an illegal act, said Pacheco in an interview to Radio Mozambique Wednesday.

Moreover, he appealed the population to collaborate with the police in an attempt to establish tranquillity in Maputo.

According to Pacheco the police positioned itself in focal points and if it had done it differently the strike would have been worse.

The police has arrested a significant number of citizens connected to the riot, a number still to be made public.

Different church leaders are also appealing the population to remain calm, among them Reverend Dinis Sengulane, who is also member of the State Council. The president of the republic has not addressed the nation yet.

The strike is taking place in Maputo while the rest of the country is operating normally.

Source: Xinhua