Photo: Resistência Nacional Moçambicana

Former rebel group, Renamo leader Afonso Dhlakama, being interviewed.

The Mozambican police have confirmed that an operation by the defence and security forces on 6 July destroyed the guerrilla camp used by members of Renamo when they launched the attacks in late June.

The Renamo camp was at Mangomonhe, in Chibabava district, in the central province of Sofala.

Interviewed by Radio Mozambique, the Sofala provincial police commander, Joaquim Nido, said the camp consisted of 53 huts, which were all destroyed.

He said that the defence and security forces suffered no casualties, and that the Renamo men fled in disarray.

"We dislodged same bandits camped in the Mangomonhe area", he said. "This was the group which, on 21 June, attacked vehicles and killed and injured some of our fellow countrymen".

However, a report in the daily newssheet "Mediafax" claimed that information of the impending attack was leaked to Renamo, so that when the joint force from the police and the army arrived, they found nobody at the base.

"Mediafax" added that, on their return from Mangomonhe, the security forces were ambushed by Renamo, and an intense exchange of fire took place, in which there were casualties on both sides.