The Mozambican defense forces have failed on Tuesday to overrun a base of the main opposition Renamo party in the central province of Sofala, state media reported on Thursday.

The government forces met stiff resistance from the Renamo side at a camp in the Mangomanha region, the Mozambique News Agency (AIM) quoted an independent daily "O Pais" as saying.

The exchange of fire lasted for five hours, and some residents in Muxungue fled from the town and hid in the nearby bushes, according to the report.

Mangomanha is reportedly the base of the Renamo gunmen who were accused of being responsible for the attacks against convoys on a highway linking Muxungue and the Save river.

From early June when Renamo suspended the truce, there have been frequent attacks against convoys, leaving several people injured, and Muxungue is the scene of continued clashes between the two sides since last May.

Two convoys a day in each direction used to travel under military escort between Muxungue and the Save river, but the number has now been cut by half.

The state news agency AIM also confirmed other clashes occurred on Tuesday between armed personnel of Renamo and government forces at Murrotane in Mocuba district, in the central province of Zambezia.

The conflict left 14 government troops wounded, while there was neither information of death, nor casualties on the Renamo side. Endi

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