Zambian president worships with Lagos preacher

The Zambian president, Frederick Chiluba, has spent the weekend worshipping at the church of a controversial preacher in Nigeria's commercial capital, Lagos.

The preacher, known as Prophet Temitope Joshua, has been visited by prominent Nigerians, but Mr Chiluba is believed to be the first foreign head of state to worship there.

The charismatic preacher says he derives miraculous powers from God that enable him to cure many diseases as well as cleanse people of evil spirits.

The BBC Lagos correspondent says Prophet Temitope Joshua has been criticised by other churches, as well as organisations trying to control the spread of AIDS in Nigeria, who accuse him of exploiting the desperation of sick and poor people.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service