MAPUTO, Oct. 4 (Xinhua) -- Insurgents had killed 90 people and left about 1,000 homeless since the attacks began a year ago in the northern Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado, the Police General Commander of Mozambique said Thursday.
"The armed men, until now, have killed 90 Mozambican citizens and seriously injured 67 Mozambicans," said commander Bernardino Rafael, who was speaking to the press in Maputo during the 25th anniversary of the signing of the General Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation between the government and the main opposition party, Renamo.
According to Rafael, actions by the Defence and Security Forces have culminated in the arrest of 280 people suspected of involvement in the attacks and three camps were destroyed.
"There is work that the police are doing together with the communities, the Defense and Security Forces continue to work to protect the populations of that region," he said.
The attacks come at a time when natural gas is under exploitation in that province, and a study released earlier this year pointed to social exclusion as the cause of the conflict.
On Wednesday, 189 suspects were put on trial at the Judicial Court of the province of Cabo Delgado. The defendants are reported to be from countries including Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Burundi and Kenya.
