Maputo — one person died and three others were injured in a clash on Friday between the Mozambican police and a crowd of about 300 people who attacked a health post at Macaroja, in Moma district, in the northern province of Nampula.

This is the latest outbreak of violence caused by the rumours that health staff are deliberately spreading cholera. It is thought that this disinformation may have arisen out of a confusion between the Portuguese words for cholera and for chlorine, which can sound vaguely similar. Chlorine is used to disinfect water sources.

Unlike previous attacks on health posts, the Friday raid took place at a time when no cholera cases have been reported in Moma.

According to a report on Radio Mozambique, the man who died led the attack on the health centre. He received a bullet in the stomach when he was trying to seize a gun from one of the police officers.

The mob was armed with machetes and clubs. They destroyed the solar panel that provided the electricity for the health centre. They also stole the centre's radio transmitter, and beds, mattresses and sheets.

The raid may well have been politically motivated, since the gang also attacked the local offices of the ruling Frelimo Party. The Frelimo flag was torn down and destroyed. Parts of a local primary school were also vandalized.

The police say they have arrested ten people accused of spreading the cholera rumour.

Mad/pf (250)