Maputo — Mozambique's Attorney-General, Joaquim Madeira, has said that the Public Prosecutor's Office may question Interior Minister Almerino Manhenje "without fear", if necessary, but that no decision on interrogating the Minister has yet been taken.

The independent newsheet "Mediafax" said on Monday that it was certain Manhenje would be questioned later this week in connection with the illicit release, on 1 September, of Anibal dos Santos Junior ("Anibalzinho"), one of the men accused of the November 2000 murder of the country's top investigative journalist, Carlos Cardoso.

Cited in Wednesday's issue of the daily paper "Noticias", Madeira said there was no certainty about this. "We never said that Almerino Manhenje would be questioned", he explained. "What we did say was high ranking police officers would be questioned and if, during this process, the conclusion is reached that we ought to question the Minister, then we will do so without any fear".

"We are not afraid to question the Minister", he stressed.

"But it cannot be insinuated that there is any showdown between us and the Minister. This is an investigation that should follow all the steps inherent to it".

Madeira said the interrogation of the senior police officers will begin immediately after the current festive season has ended. He added that his office wanted the inquiry into Anibalzinho's release concluded as quickly as possible.

The interrogation of the police officers was originally scheduled for 23 December, but had to be postponed because the man in charge of the case, Assistant Attorney-General Rafael Sebastiao, was absent on that date.