Mozambique's effort to become the first of the world's major mine-contaminated countries to be declared mine-free is faltering on the home straight.

At least 440 sites are still heavily infested by landmines near residential districts in three Mozambican provinces, a non-governmental organisation working with the disabled said on Thursday. Demining agency Handicap International said the sites were in Inhambane and central provinces of Manica and Sofala.