The death toll inflicted by Mozambique’s post-election unrest has climbed to 261, according to a local monitoring group, with most of the fatalities caused by police gunfire.

The prisoners took advantage of ongoing political unrest triggered by disputed poll results, police say.

Thirty-three inmates were killed and 15 others sustained injuries during a violent clash with the prison's security forces.

Mozambique is experiencing escalating civil unrest linked to October’s disputed election, which extended long-ruling party Frelimo’s stay in power. Opposition groups and their supporters claim the vote was rigged.

At least 6,000 inmates escaped from a high-security prison in Mozambique’s capital on Christmas Day after a rebellion, the