Suspects 'not taken to Botswana'

Botswana has no US military camps, the president says

Botswana's President Festus Mogae has denied reports that five al-Qaeda suspects arrested and removed from Malawi in an operation involving the American CIA were flown to his country.

"There is no truth of any al-Qaeda suspects having been brought here on any flight ," Mr Mogae told the Associated Press news agency.

"The story is false."

The five suspects - two Turks, a Kenyan, a Saudi Arabian and a Sudanese - were arrested in a joint operation involving the CIA and Malawi's National Intelligence Bureau.

Reports said the suspects were removed via a US military base in Botswana en route to the USA.

The denial by President Mogae comes as protests continue in Malawi over the arrest and removal of the suspects.

Police opened fire on Monday to disperse Muslim protesters in Kasungu, about 100km (65 miles) north of the capital, Lilongwe.

The protesters thronged the streets chanting 'Allahu akbar!' (God is great!).

Gunshot wounds

The Muslim demonstrators only dispersed when the police fired live bullets.

Kasungu District Health Officer Henry Phiri told BBC News Online that one person was taken to hospital with serious gunshot wounds.

"He came in with a fractured femur but he is out of danger," he said.

Police spokesman George Chikowi refused to discuss the incident saying he is yet to get the full details.

Malawi's President Bakili Muluzi has told security forces to arrest anyone suspected of involvement in religious violence.

In Mangochi district, about 180 kilometres (120 miles) north-east of the commercial centre Blantyre, troops were deployed after Muslim mobs went on the rampage on Saturday.

The mobs vandalised churches and attacked a priest, according to witnesses.