Renamo guerrillas who had closed the party's national headquarters on Friday were driven out by armed men.

The group of former Renamo guerrillas who are protesting against the current leadership accuse the party's president, Ossufo Momade, of sending his trusted men to end the protest.

According to a RFIThe dissidents are vowing to continue their fight to oust Ossufo Momade from the party leadership, following the poor results obtained in last year's local elections and in the general elections on October 9.

The doors of Renamo's national headquarters were closed from Friday morning until early Saturday evening, when armed men stormed the place to expel the guerrillas. João Machava, the group's spokesman, explained that after the armed men arrived, the dissidents, who didn't want to respond with violence, decided to leave.

"Suddenly a group of more than 30 men appeared and started raping us and as we don't want to answer for the violence, we chose to withdraw. But our withdrawal is not the end of our cause," said the group's spokesperson.

Two of the former guerrillas were injured in the clashes. The group is calling for a national council to be held for the combatants, with a view to electing a new party leadership.

The episode of violence was also repeated at the Renamo party office in the city of Chimoio, between supporters and those demanding the departure of Ossufo Momade.

(Photo DR)