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.

More than 1,500 prisoners escaped from a Maputo prison Wednesday, taking advantage of the third day of unrest triggered by the controversial confirmation of the long-ruling Frelimo party as the winner of recent elections.

Hundreds of buildings were damaged or looted, including schools and hospitals, in a wave of unrest after Daniel Chapo was confirmed as the winner of the presidential election.

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

Protests erupted on Monday in response to Mozambique's highest court confirming that the ruling Frelimo party, in power since 1975, had won October's presidential elections. Mr Rafael said groups of anti-government protesters had approached the prison in the capital Maputo on Wednesday.

Hundreds of buildings were looted or vandalized, according to government officials, in a wave of unrest after Daniel Chapo was confirmed as the winner of Mozambique’s presidential election.

More than 1,500 prisoners escaped from a prison near Maputo on Wednesday, taking advantage of the third day of unrest triggered by the controversial confirmation of the long-ruling Frelimo party as the winner of recent elections.

Suspected riot erupts inside prison in Maputo, with some officials denying incident is linked to post-election unrest.

The US called the electoral process "flawed," while the European Union pointed to "irregularities during counting of votes and unjustified alteration of election results."

The decision by Mozambique's Constitutional Council sparked fresh nationwide protests by opposition groups and their supporters who say the vote was rigged.