Maputo, Mozambique — Mozambique's main opposition party, Renamo, on Thursday abandoned its demand for a parliamentary commission of inquiry to investigate the Attorney-General's Office.

Renamo deputy Manuel Frank told parliament that when his party proposed such a commission, in June 2000, "the situation in the Attorney-General's Office was chaotic".

There was then no sign at all that this body was undertaking its main tasks of fighting crime, defending the legally established order, and guaranteeing the rule of law, Frank added.

But shortly after Renamo submitted its proposal, President Joaquim Chissano took action and sacked Attorney-General Antonio Namburete and all six assistant attorneys-general.

Chissano appointed Joaquim Madeira, a former Supreme Court judge, Mozambique's new Attorney-General.

Frank said that Renamo was prepared to give Madeira "the benefit of the doubt", and noted that Madeira "seems interested in cleaning up the Attorney-General's office".