The spokesman for the General Command of the Police of the Republic of Mozambique announced yesterday (12) that 16 people died between December 4 and 11 due to the violent demonstrations taking place throughout the country.

Overall, Orlando Mudumane said that in the period in question, 409 violent incidents were recorded in the country, culminating in 16 deaths, 12 of which were perpetrators of violence and vandalism and four PRM members, 73 serious and moderate injuries, including PRM members.

Eleven police stations and three commercial establishments were also attacked, 63 public and private infrastructures vandalized and looted, 76 commercial establishments broken into and 12 homes looted and 9 vehicles set on fire.

In connection with these criminal acts, 120 individuals were arrested on charges of the various legal types of crime recorded during this period and the respective documents were sent to the Public Prosecutor's Office for further legal proceedings.

He said that in the last seven days, the damage had been registered, with the greatest incidence in Maputo city, Nampula, Zambézia and Maputo "by members and sympathizers of PODEMOS, instigated by Venâncio Mondlane".

Police units and prisons were attacked with the aim of seizing firearms and releasing detainees accused of various types of crime.

The spokesman for the General Command warned the demonstrators that, "The PRM will defend itself in various ways and these attacks on police units and prisons will deserve a proper, real and forceful response."

He said that the perpetrators "were clearly drunk or drugged, mobilized in vehicles from one neighborhood to another, broke into commercial establishments, from where they looted various other people's goods, blocked roads, blackmailed and coerced motorists into paying illegal tolls".