MAPUTO, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- Mozambican President Armando Guebuza has pledged if he wins this year's presidential election, he will make no attempt to amend the Constitution so that he could stand for a third term of office.

He was speaking to reporters after laying a wreath at Maputo's Monument to the Mozambican Heroes on Sunday to mark the 17th anniversary of the peace agreement between the government and the apartheid backed Renamo rebels, which as signed in Rome on Oct. 4,1992, AIM reported.

There has been some media speculation that, if the ruling Frelimo Party wins a two-thirds majority in parliament, it will use it to change the constitution, which provides for no person tobe elected to more than two consecutive terms of office as president.

Guebuza categorically denied that he wanted a third term. On the contrary, he had every intention of upholding the current constitution, of which he is the guarantor. "I respect the constitution and I respect the law," he said.

Guebuza also said the scattered outbreaks of violence that occurred during the current election campaign would not damage Mozambique's image as a peaceful country.

Asked about clashes between supporters of rival parties, Guebuza noted that there had always been violent incidents during Mozambican elections.

If we look at the other elections, we see that there were always spots of violence in all corners of the country," he said. "But this does not endanger the peace and stability of the country."

Guebuza urged supporters of the ruling Frelimo Party not to resort to violence and not to respond to provocation. The other two presidential candidates, Afonso Dhlakama of Renamo, and Daviz Simango of the Mozambique Democratic Movement (MDM), have made similar appeals.

Despite the positions taken by their party leaders, there have been repeated clashes between Frelimo, Renamo and MDM supporters, occasionally resulting in the hospitalization of some of those involved.