Mozambique journalists accuse police of assault

Journalists in Mozambique have accused the police of assaulting three of their colleagues who were investigating alleged detention of young people.

The youths were allegedly detained at a police in the northern Nampula province over links to a video that had captured a municipality police officer assaulting a vendor.

The Mozambique branch of the Media Institute for Southern Africa (Misa) said the TV journalists were assaulted and detained when they went to interview the arrested youths at the station.

“The agents didn't have time to listen to us to understand our concern. They accused us of defaming and tarnishing the reputation of the police,” said Simão Mugas, a reporter at TV Muniga.

One of the journalists lost his motorbike in the confrontation.

The officers also temporarily retained a camera belonging to TV Sucesso.

Misa said all measures will be taken to hold the police officers to account.

This article originally appeared on BBC News

Photo: Inter Press Service