Mozambique's flooding causes economy to ebb

The Mozambican government has further revised its figures on economic growth as the full effects of last year's catastrophic flooding has become clear.

The Finance minister, Luisa Diogo, said the economy only grew by two-point-one percent last year, down from a revised figure of just under four percent.

Before the widespread floods hit southern and central regions, eight percent had been expected.

The floods caused severe damage to agriculture, as well as the road and rail networks. Mrs Diogo said the disruption caused to transport links was one of the major reasons for a sharp rise in prices.

A BBC correspondent in Mozambique says that until last year, Mozambique was widely praised for the way it had emerged from years of devastating war to achieve record economic growth.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service