Renamo calls off Mozambique 'ceasefire'

Maputo (AFP) - Mozambique's revived rebel movement Renamo has called off a truce with government forces, warning Thursday that armed attacks would spread from the main north-south highway across the country.

"Across the entire national territory, there is no more ceasefire," said the group's spokesman Antonio Muchanga, amid reports of strikes against vehicles travelling in central province Sofala.

"In order to save human lives, we ask people not to use the roads because, at the moment, there is conflict," Muchanga told AFP in the capital Maputo.

The movement, which is also the official opposition, earlier this week called off the truce leader Afonso Dhlakama announced only last month.

Protracted peace talks with the Frelimo-led government are currently deadlocked over Renamo's demand for its members to occupy half the positions in the police and military.

While Renamo still maintains it will take part in national and presidential polls later this year, it warned the conflict could intensify.

"The country will see armed attacks of greater intensity," said Muchanga, adding: "I believe that if the situation continues, this could spread across the country."

Local media reported at least four deaths this week in as many attacks on vehicles travelling along the EN1 highway between the Save River and the town of Muxungue.

Police declined to confirm the incidents earlier and the military was unreachable for comment.

Armed forces have been escorting convoys across this 100-kilometre (60-mile) stretch of road just north of the boundary between Inhambane and Sofala provinces since last April, when suspected Renamo gunmen began targeting civilian vehicles.

The French embassy issued a travel warning for Sofala province Thursday, citing "new attacks, claimed by Renamo... with reports of several killed and wounded, including civilians."

Renamo leader Dhlakama returned to his bush camp two years ago, accusing the government of reneging on a 1992-peace treaty that ended 16 years of hostilities.

Government forces overran his base in Gorongosa last October, and since then the two groups have been locked in tit-for-tat skirmishes in Sofala.

Dhlakama briefly emerged from hiding in April to register as a voter -- a requirement to able to run for president.

The recalcitrant leader now wants government forces pulled back from around his hiding place so that he can campaign ahead of the October elections.