The former Zambian president, Kenneth Kaunda, says he's retiring from politics,three days after being released from house arrest and having treason charges against him dropped.

Mr Kaunda, who led the country for twenty-seven years after independence, denied that any deal had been worked out to induce him to step down.

He said he wanted to concentrate his efforts on a peace institute he founded several years ago.

The announcement was welcomed by a spokesman for Frederick Chiluba -- Mr Kaunda's successor as President.