Maputo — Members of Mozambique's former rebel movement Renamo on Tuesday assaulted Geraldo Carvalho, the election agent of Daviz Simango, the current mayor of the central city of Beira, reports the Beira daily paper "Diario de Mocambique".

Simango was expelled from Renamo in September, and is campaigning as an independent in the municipal elections. Renamo in Beira is deeply split over the elections, and Carvalho is among the faction that has vigorously supported Simango.

Carvalho used to be the Renamo spokesperson in Beira, He, like the rest of the Simango faction, claims to represent the true Renamo.

The attack occurred when Carvalho visited the Renamo office in the town of Inhaminga, where a National Youth Meeting was ending. According to one of the assailants, a young Renamo member named Rui Miguel, Carvalho was attacked because he insulted Renamo President Afonso Dhlakama.

Carvalho allegedly distributed T-shirts bearing the image of Renamo's first commander, Andre Matsangaissa, while at the same time denouncing Dhlakama as the man who was "destabilizing and destroying" Renamo.

"This offended our members and supporters", said Miguel. Carvalho was asked to leave, but refuse, "so he was immediately and severely beaten".

Miguel thought the beating was a minor punishment for Carvalho's "disobedience", and warned "he will learn the same lesson in all Renamo offices. He was expelled and should stop using the symbols of our party, including his membership card. If he continues to use the symbols and visit our offices, then he is certain to be beaten".