Maputo, Mozambique — The trial is underway of leaders of the riots that shook the northern Mozambican town of Montepuez on 9 November last year, with one of the defendants conceding that rioters actually clubbed several policemen to death.

Secundino Cinquenta was answering questions from the judge as the trial rolled off Wednesday.

He is said to face seven counts of murder for the seven policemen who died in the riots.

Cinquenta is also charged with being the "moral author" of an armed rebellion, being in illegal possession of firearms, the illegal occupation of public buildings, and responsibility for damage estimated at 174 million meticais (about 8,800 US dollars).

Cinquenta also confirmed that the rioters had seized the local police command and helped themselves to over 80 guns that were held there.

He said it was the police who opened fire first, and that the demonstrators retaliated only after the police had killed six of their number.

Cinquenta is the first of 18 alleged ringleaders lined up to answer charges on the riot.