Maputo — Three members of the Mozambican police force were injured in a shoot-out with armed criminals on Monday night in the inner Maputo neighbourhood of Coop, reports Tuesday's issue of the daily paper "Noticias".

The gunfight occurred at about 22.00. According to eye-witnesses, the police confronted four armed men who were using a BMW saloon. The criminals had parked the car in a side street and were ambushing citizens, holding them up at gunpoint and stealing their cell phones and other belongings.

When the police were alerted, they sent a patrol into Coop to try to control the situation. The gunmen opened fire on the police, and in the exchange of shots three policemen were injured, and the gang made good their escape,

The police mounted a manhunt, and a large number of armed policemen could be seen on the streets of Coop later in the night. So far the four gunmen have not been apprehended.