<p>Unidentified assailants in Mozambique have set fire to the headquarters of an investigative newspaper that angered the government by leaking confidential documents earlier this year, its editor said on Monday.</p>.<p>The privately-owned Canal de Mocambique probes alleged state corruption and is openly critical of the regime.</p>.<p>Public prosecutors sued the paper in June after it circulated confidential contracts between the government and liquefied natural gas exploration companies in the restive northern Cabo Delgado region.</p>.<p>The leaked documents showed plans to send troops to protect the companies from insurgents that have been wreaking havoc in the area since 2017.</p>.<p>Canal de Mocambique's offices were attacked late on Sunday in the capital Maputo.</p>.<p>"They broke down the doors yesterday around 8 pm (1800 GMT) and set everything on fire with fuel," editor Matias Gente told AFP on Monday.</p>.<p>All furniture, documents and electronics were destroyed by the blaze.</p>.<p>"We are not naive to think that this is a common crime," Gente added. "It is because of our work that certain sectors of society have not been pleased."</p>.<p>Mozambican police have not yet commented on the incident, which has been denounced by journalists and rights groups.</p>.<p>"This attack represents a serious blow to the freedom of the press, one of the foundations of democracy," the Maputo-based Center for Democracy and Development said in a statement.</p>.<p>Veteran journalist Fernando Lima denounced "a terrorist act against press freedom".</p>.<p>Government officials have accused the editor Gente of undermining state security through his work.</p>.<p>He was assaulted by strangers in downtown Maputo last year and believes he narrowly escaped kidnapping.</p>
<p>Unidentified assailants in Mozambique have set fire to the headquarters of an investigative newspaper that angered the government by leaking confidential documents earlier this year, its editor said on Monday.</p>.<p>The privately-owned Canal de Mocambique probes alleged state corruption and is openly critical of the regime.</p>.<p>Public prosecutors sued the paper in June after it circulated confidential contracts between the government and liquefied natural gas exploration companies in the restive northern Cabo Delgado region.</p>.<p>The leaked documents showed plans to send troops to protect the companies from insurgents that have been wreaking havoc in the area since 2017.</p>.<p>Canal de Mocambique's offices were attacked late on Sunday in the capital Maputo.</p>.<p>"They broke down the doors yesterday around 8 pm (1800 GMT) and set everything on fire with fuel," editor Matias Gente told AFP on Monday.</p>.<p>All furniture, documents and electronics were destroyed by the blaze.</p>.<p>"We are not naive to think that this is a common crime," Gente added. "It is because of our work that certain sectors of society have not been pleased."</p>.<p>Mozambican police have not yet commented on the incident, which has been denounced by journalists and rights groups.</p>.<p>"This attack represents a serious blow to the freedom of the press, one of the foundations of democracy," the Maputo-based Center for Democracy and Development said in a statement.</p>.<p>Veteran journalist Fernando Lima denounced "a terrorist act against press freedom".</p>.<p>Government officials have accused the editor Gente of undermining state security through his work.</p>.<p>He was assaulted by strangers in downtown Maputo last year and believes he narrowly escaped kidnapping.</p>