Doctors say Mozambique prisoners asphyxiated

MAPUTO, Mozambique (Reuters) -- Eighty-two inmates found dead in a small prison in northern Mozambique probably died of asphyxiation according to a preliminary report by government doctors, state radio reported on Saturday.

Radio Mozambique quoted Dr Eugenio Zacarias, head of the government autopsy team, as saying examinations of 33 corpses indicated suffocation.

"The bodies did not present any signs of serious aggression which could have led to death. The cells are very small and ventilation holes are too small to serve the 94 inmates in just one cell," Zacarias said in remarks broadcast by the radio.

South African pathologists who flew to Maputo on Thursday to take part in an independent probe into the deaths declined comment on their initial findings, saying they would present results to the Mozambican government which had requested their help.

The deaths occurred on Tuesday night in the northern town of Montepuez, where 41 people died in recent clashes between supporters of the opposition Renamo party and police.

Most of the dead prisoners were Renamo supporters rounded up during the riots a fortnight ago. Renamo leader Afonso Dhlakama has blamed President Joaquim Chissano's ruling Frelimo party for orchestrating the deaths, but the ruling party denied it.

State television reported on Friday night that the prisoners died after more than 100 were squeezed into a single cell.

Neither the government nor police have explained why so many prisoners were in one cell.

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