MAPUTO, Mozambique (Xinhua) — The Mozambican authorities yesterday said an investigation team found no evidence showing that the army violated human rights in northwestern Tete Province as some international human rights organisations charged last month.

Joaquim Verissimo, deputy minister of justice, constitutional and religious affairs, called on those organisations to provide evidence of any violation acts made by Government forces in the coal-rich province.

Verissimo is in Tete Province together with senior officials from the Government to probe the alleged abuse, rape and executions of individuals by Government forces.

“Facts are visible here. We have not found any evidence of the alleged executions; what we have found is that the kidnapping of local leaders is a crime committed by Renamo,” said Verissimo.

“Renamo is responsible for the fear installed in the community; it is the main opposition that is causing all other problems.”

The deputy minister said Mozambican Government forces do not have, in their mission nor objectives, mistreatment of civilians.

“So far, we did not hear of a single case that a woman was sexually abused; we did not get any testimony of mistreatment so we expect the entity that has alleged that to provide us with more details,” said Verissimo.

Since last year, over 7,000 Mozambicans from Tete Province have crossed the border seeking asylum in Malawi, following clashes between Government forces and gunmen from the opposition Renamo.

Last month, some international human rights organisations reported that refugees claimed that they fled army abuses, including summary execution of civilians.