MAPUTO, June 16 (Xinhuanet) -- Mozambique is planning to revise its national flag and emblem of the republic, local media reportedThursday.

    The Mozambican parliament, the Assembly of the Republic, on Wednesday approved a proposal concerning designs for a new national flag and a new emblem of the republic, and launched a public competition to design the new national symbols, according to the report.

    The launch of the competition of the respective terms of reference, was contained in a proposal presented by the ad hoc commission for the revision of national symbols.

    The terms of reference are that, while allowing a free hand to the creativity of the contesting artists, the symbols should reflect ideas such as "the blood shed by the Mozambican people in the struggle for liberty; national unity; peace; democracy and social justice, and the country's wealth."

    The competition is to run from June 15 to September 15, when the commission will collect all submissions from which the best three will be selected.

    The three selected proposals will then be handed to the ad hoc commission that will table them to the plenary of the Assembly of the Republic for a final decision on the winner.

    The winning contestants are to receive 250 million meticals (about 10,400 US dollars) as first prize for both the national flagand the emblem, 150 million meticals (about 6,240 dollars) for therunner-up, and 100 million meticals (about 4,160 dollars) for third place. Enditem