The so-called 'Day of Liberation' march, called by opposition presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane to protest the results of the general elections in October, was scheduled to begin this morning but crowds were immediately dispersed by police and military. Protesters have taken to burning tyres in the streets.
The live blog below is now closed but read our dispatch from the protests for an overview of the day's events.
Presidential guard fires on protesters
Soldiers of the presidential guard were filmed firing on protesters as they sped down Eduardo Mondlane Avenue.
The presidential guard blocked Julius Nyerere Avenue at the intersection of Mao Tse Tung Avenue this morning to protect the road that leads to the president's office.
Army and police put out fires lit by protesters on Eduardo Mondlane Avenue
Video: Plainclothes police officers seen firing Ak-47s to disperse crowds
Video: Police fire tear gas into kneeling crowd at point blank range
The footage was reportedly filmed in the Maputo suburb of Maxaquene.
13:35 – Military and police block roads into Maputo city centre
At the moment, thousands of demonstrators are trying to enter the city centre through Joaquim Chissano, Vladimir Lenine, Julius Nyerere and Eduardo Mondlane avenues.
Anti-riot police UIR are firing tear gas, live ammunition and rubber bullets to stop the advance of the demonstrators. Some plainclothes officers were filmed firing real bullets with AKMs.
The military’s stance has been more restrained compared to the UIR and has sometimes allowed the protesters to advance.
A lot of military personnel, meanwhile, are seen cordoning off the city centre, suggesting that they will be responsible for controlling the crowd if protesters manage to cross the UIR line.
Special Operations Groups (GOE) are also at some strategic points, while a police helicopter is also firing tear gas in the outlying suburbs to disperse protesters who are putting up barricades and burning tyres on the roads.
