Misa Mozambique will file a criminal complaint with the Attorney General's Office against the police for the disproportionate use of force that culminated in an attack on journalists during Monday's demonstrations.

The information was provided yesterday by the executive director of Misa Mozambique, Ernesto Nhanale.

The group says that the agents of the state, who attacked the right to freedom of the press and the right to demonstrate, must be held responsible

"We're going to file a complaint. We're going to report it. But this was a public crime and it is the duty of the Attorney General's Office to investigate it before we report it. At that moment, they were not engaged in any offensive action. In that space, the images show that the press conference was taking place and no one was throwing anything at the police," said Nhanale.

According to Nhanale, the police proactively used force at a time when others were not against them. "We consider, we don't think, that there were violations against the freedom of the press and freedom of demonstration, which are fundamental and constitutional rights here in Mozambique."

On October 21, in Praça da OMM, in Maputo City, when presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane was speaking to the press about the demonstrations he had called, the police fired tear gas capsules that directly hit journalists and the presidential candidate himself.

Image DR