Zambian president warns of coup plot

The Zambian President, Levy Mwanawasa, has said that he has uncovered a plot to assassinate him and overthrow his government.

President Mwanawasa did not identify the people he suspects of planning the coup, but said the security forces were now watching them closely.

The president said he wanted the plotters to know that he was aware of their plans and that they would not succeed because there were too few of them.

He said that, as part of increased precautions, crowds of his supporters would no longer be allowed to welcome him home from foreign trips at the airport because his enemies could hide among them.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service