Mozambique's ruling party Frelimo has retained power in this month's national election, extending its five-decade rule in the Southern African state as the opposition accused it of fraud.

MAPUTO, Mozambique (AP) — Moazmbique's ruling party candidate Daniel Chapo was declared the winner of the country's presidential election Thursday amid claims of rigging by the opposition.

But as a lawyer for an opposition leader, in an election year, he felt it was his duty to speak out. “In a country as upside down as ours, truth and justice have their price,” he wrote, “and the biggest price is the death of the one who says it.

Mozambique's capital Maputo was deserted early Thursday ahead of the announcement of results of the October 9 elections that an opposition candidate has rejected while calling for fresh protests against the ruling party which is expected to be declared winner.

The atmosphere in Mozambique's capital, Maputo, is tense, local media report. Footage shows empty streets and closed businesses. The main opposition candidate, Mondlane, has calle

Daniel Chapo, presidential candidate of the ruling Frelimo party casts his vote during the general elections at Inhambane, in the southern Mozambique, October

Daniel Chapo of the Frelimo party, which has governed the southern African nation for nearly 50 years, was declared the victor amid violence and widespread allegations of fraud.