UPDATE - Death toll in post-election violence in Mozambique climbs to 24

UPDATES WITH RISE IN DEATH TOLL, CHANGES HEADLINE, DECK, LEDE***

By Jamal Jamal

LILONGWE, Malawi (AA) - The death toll from post-election violence in Mozambique has risen to 24, a human rights group said Wednesday.

The Centre for Democracy and Human Rights said the post-elections violence has claimed the lives of two dozen people throughout the country.

Violence engulfed the southern African nation following the Oct. 9 presidential election, which was won by Daniel Chapo of the ruling Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo) with 70% of the vote, according to the National Electoral Commission.

Opposition leader Venancio Mondlane, who according to the commission came in second with 20.32%, has been calling for protests against the poll results, calling them fraudulent.

On Wednesday, hundreds of medical professionals staged a protest march urging security officers and politicians to end the post-election violence

Napoleao Viola, head of the Mozambique Medical Association (MMA), said that at least 108 people have been shot and 16 killed in various parts of the country.

Viola said that some health care services are breaking down due to a “heavy strain” on the country’s already “overburdened health facilities.”

He said in some health facilities in the country, some services “are no longer working, especially out-patient services and consultations.”

Services for children have also been affected, he added.

“Unfortunately, this is a situation affecting the delivery of our health services across the country. That’s why we decided to stage this protest march. Enough is enough. We plead with security agents and politicians on both sides of the divide to come together and propose solutions,” Viola said.