He held presidential office for 27 years until he was ousted by Frederick Chiluba in Zambia's first democratic elections in 1991.

The result marked the end of an era in Zambian politics.

Known as the "Father of the Nation", Mr Kaunda founded and still heads the United National Independence Party (UNIP) which was for many years the country's sole political party.

Mr Chiluba, formerly the head of Zambia's influential trade union movement, rose to power with his Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD), now the ruling party, by challenging the corruption of the one-party system

Mr Chiluba promised a raft of changes to turn around Zambia's economy, which had been driven into the ground under Mr Kaunda's socialist-oriented rule.

Re-election bid foiled

Although Mr Kaunda withdrew from public life for a time the leaders continued to be at loggerheads.

He made his comeback, he said, at the request of his supporters. It came in the form of outspoken attacks which angered the government.

In 1995 he was arrested twice for addressing unauthorised political meetings.

President Frederick Chiluba: changed the rules

Then, in 1996, he was prevented from standing against President Chiluba by a constitutional amendment making someone born of foreign parents ineligible.

Kaunda's parents were from neighbouring Malawi.

While he vowed to regain power, Kaunda's opposition alliance boycotted elections that easily returned the MMD party to office.

Mr Kaunda accused Mr Chiluba's regime of corruption and of hounding him, and called for a campaign of "civil obedience" against the government.

In October 1997 junior army officers staged a coup attempt while Mr Kaunda was out of the country, but got no further than seizing control of the state radio station for three hours.

Despite denying any involvement, Mr Kaunda was arrested in December and charged with failing to inform authorities of the coup attempt.

He was first imprisoned, but spent most of the last months under house arrest.

Fight will go on

But minutes after his trial finally opened, the prosecution was dropped.

Immediately after he learned his case was dismissed, Mr Kaunda vowed to continue to be a thorn in the side of his successor and foe.

"Nothing can stop me," he said to the cheers of jubilant supporters outside the court.