Mozambique leader 'wants justice done'

Carlos Cardoso was investigating corruption cases

The president of Mozambique, Joaquim Chissano, has urged judges to carry on as normal in a murder trial which has linked his son to the killing of the country's most famous investigative journalist two years ago.

What the president wants is justice. He wishes that the trial continues normally, regardless of the mention of his son

Antonio Matonse, presidential spokesman

One of the six men on trial, Manuel Fernandes, told the court in the capital, Maputo, that he had agreed to take part in the killing when he had learnt that Nhyimpine Chissano had ordered it.

Carlos Cardoso dominated Mozambican journalism and led the struggle for press freedom as Mozambique abandoned Marxism and became a multi-party democracy.

The BBC's Southern Africa correspondent Barnaby Phillips says his murder, and the subsequent investigation, have highlighted the growing corruption in one of Africa's best performing economies.

Protection

On Wednesday, a second man implicated Nhyimpine Chissano in the murder.

Momade Abdul Satar told the court that the president's son had asked him to pay $41,000 to the chief suspect, Anibal dos Santos.

Mr Satar said he did not know what the payment was for.

Cardoso's death shocked Mozambique

On Tuesday, Mr Fernandes said Mr dos Santos had told him that "there would be no problem, nobody would touch them".

Nhyimpine Chissano has not reacted to Mr Fernandes's testimony, but his father has said through a spokesman that justice must take its course.

"What the president wants is justice. He wishes that the trial continues normally, regardless of the mention of his son," presidential spokesman Antonio Matonse said.

Bloodstains

Mr Fernandes said he had been promised $21,000 to help murder Mr Cardoso.

Mr dos Santos was reported to have escaped from prison in September but his lawyer said his client might have been killed in jail as, he said, there were reports of bloodstains in his cell.

The five other defendants are standing trial inside a top security prison.

Carlos Cardoso was shot in Maputo nearly two years ago

Mr Cardoso's murder shocked Mozambique and the trial was initially broadcast live on national television until the trial judge abruptly halted the process on Tuesday, saying it could prejudice the case.

Mr Cardoso was investigating banking scandals two years ago when he was shot dead on a Maputo street.

At his funeral, President Joaquim Chissano promised that the state would do everything it could to arrest and bring his killers to trial.

Judge Augusto Paulino said before the trial opened that he would question a former government minister and President Chissano's son in connection with the case, although he had not yet decided to charge them.

The Cardoso family is demanding the equivalent of over $580,000 in compensation from the alleged killers for moral and material damage.