Deputies from the opposition Renamo party in Mozambique have taken their seats in parliament, abandoning an earlier threat to boycott the newly-elected assembly over allegations of fraud.

Renamo and its allies won one-hundred-and-seventeen seats in the December poll, against one-hundred-and-thirty-three for the governing Frelimo party.

All but three took the oath of office -- those absent included the Renamo leader, Afonso Dhlakama.

A legal challenge by Renamo to the presidential and parliamentary results was thrown out by the supreme court.

But Renamo which fought a bitter sixteen-year war against Frelimo refuses to accept the legitimacy of the government and is boycotting tomorrow's inauguration of President Joaquim Chissano for a second five-year term.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service