Three charged with defaming Chiluba

Opposition politican Edith Nawakwi is already facing charges

Zambian opposition politician, Edith Nawakwi, and two journalists from the independent newspaper, The Post, have pleaded not guilty to charges of defaming President Fredrick Chiluba.

A magistrate in Lusaka has set their trial for 5 September.

On Tuesday the three accused surrendered themselves to police, and were released on bail after several hours' detention.

Their lawyer, Mutembo Nchito, said they were questioned for several hours.

Opposition supporters who accompanied them to the police station cheered as they left.

The order for their arrest followed an editorial in the Post which described President Chiluba as a thief.

Another politician, Dipak Pater, who is in hospital with back problems, has been interviewed by the Zambian police.

The charges have sparked an outcry in Zambia among opposition and civic groups.

They are urging Zambians to sign a petition which says: "Chiluba is a thief".

Released

Mrs Nawakwi told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme that new charges were not made against her as she had been charged with defamation on a previous occasion.

President Chiluba: Increasing criticism of his rule

The Post had carried an editorial and an article in which the politicians had alleged that President Chiluba had diverted $4m allocated for emergency aid.

The food aid money has been missing since 1997. The government allocated it to buy corn, which never arrived.

Edith Nawakwi is a member of the newly-formed Forum for Democracy and Development, which recently broke away from the ruling party.

On Sunday a private radio station Radio Phoenix was closed inn what critics and human rights activists describe as an attempt to stifle government opposition.

Criticism of Zambian President Frederick Chiluba has intensified in recent months after public protests forced him to abandon a bid to extend his term in office.

The president has accused Zambia's independent media of publishing lies and falsehoods.