Kaunda accused of paying for coup

The Zambian government says the detained former president, Kenneth Kaunda, and two other politicians paid junior army officers the equivalent of two-hundred-and-seventy United States dollars to attempt a coup last October.

The government says Mr Kaunda had agreed to pay the soldiers thirteen thousand dollars after the coup.

The allegations are contained in legal papers which were served on Mr Kaunda on Saturday.

Mr Kaunda was detained on Christmas Day and held in prison for a week, before being placed under house arrest.

He has denied any involvement in the failed coup attempt.

His supporters have accused President Chiluba of using the coup as a pretext to crackdown on dissent.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service