Parties Demand Fresh Mozambique Elections (More Election Fraud)

MAPUTO, Mozambique -- Twenty opposition parties united Tuesday to demand a rerun of Mozambique's presidential and parliamentary elections, claiming widespread fraud.

The parties, led by the main opposition, Renamo, accused the ruling Frelimo and National Electoral Commission of rigging the Dec. 1-2 vote.

"Our Frelimo brothers should know that what they committed is not merely fraud, but serious crime, and this means that democracy is in jeopardy," Renamo candidate and former rebel leader Afonso Dhlakama said.

Leaders of the 20 parties -- including all 16 who contested the elections -- met in the capital, Maputo, on Tuesday to draft a memorandum outlining their grievances.

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-mozambique-election,0,4192575.story?coll=sns-ap-nationworld-headlines

FRELIMO, the ruling party of Mozambique, bravely led the liberation struggle against Portugal and fought fascism in South Africa. RENAMO, the complainers here, were mercenaries of apartheid and imperialism.