/ 12 January 2010

Mozambique opposition boycotts Parliament ceremony

A member of Mozambique’s Parliament says most of the main opposition party’s politicians boycotted a swearing-in ceremony.

Antonio Timba says he was among 35 Renamo deputies who skipped Tuesday’s opening of Parliament to protest alleged election fraud.

Sixteen other opposition politicians participated.

Renamo’s leader has called for nationwide protests against last year’s election results.

President Armando Guebuza easily won a second term during the October vote. His Frelimo party, in power since independence from Portugal in 1975, swept parliamentary voting.

The opposition accused the ruling party of stuffing ballot boxes and expelling opposition monitors from polling stations to help it win. — Sapa-AP