A further clash has taken place between the Mozambican defence and security forces and Islamist extremists in Mocimboa da Praia district, in the northern province of Cabo Delgado, reports Friday’s issue of the independent newssheet “Mediafax”.

The clash took place at about 14.00 on Thursday afternoon, on the main road between Mocimboa da Praia town and Palma, when a police unit was ambushed. Details are sketchy, but it is said that one member of the riot police and three of the attacking group were killed.

This latest clash comes in the aftermath of the raid by armed islamists last week which effectively shut down Mocimboa da Praia town for 48 hours. According to the police, two policemen and 14 of the raiders died in the shooting and the extremists murdered a local community leader. The police made 52 arrests.

The islamists who escaped from these clashes moved northwards and occupied the village of Chiukulua. The police unit ambushed was on its way to the village.

“Mediafax” also reports that the leader of the extremist group is a moslem Sheikh named Nambualele who used to live in Tanzania. It s not known whether he survived last week’s clashes.

Local people call the group Al-Shabaab, though it seems there is no direct connection between the group and the Somali terrorist organisation of that name. Moslem leaders in Mociboa da Praia say they warned the authorities of the group repeatedly, but their warnings were not taken seriously.

According to people who spoke to members of last week’s raiding party, their demands include the imposition of sharia law, a ban on the sale of alcohol, and the removal of Christian crosses and of secular statues.