Police arrived at Kenneth Kaunda's house early on Christmas morning, but were denied access. Guards at the compound insisted on an arrest warrant, but Mr Kaunda eventually agreed to go to police headquarters. He was subsequently ordered to be detained for 28 days and was taken to a prison on the outskirts of Lusaka. No charges were specified.

Former President Kaunda has denounced the current administration of President Frederick Chiluba as a government of thieves and liers. Earlier this year, Mr Kaunda was slightly injured when police opened fire on a demonstration by his UNIP party.

Tensions have been particularly high since an attempted coup in October when a small number of army officers tried to seize power. Mr Kaunda was in South Africa at the time and denied any involvement in the failed coup. But the government has consistently tried to link Mr Kaunda and other opposition politicians to the dissident army officers. Opposition sources in Lusaka say this is nonsense. They believe the attempted coup was engineered by the govenrment to enable the police to crack down on opposition activity.

A state of emergency is in place, allowing the police to detain anyone without charge they believe poses a threat to national security.