Clashes over Malawi impeachment

Bingu wa Mutharika (back) has fallen out with his predecessor Bakili Muluzi (front)

Supporters of Malawi's President Bingu wa Mutharika, angered at moves to impeach him, have attacked opposition MPs outside parliament.

The police say that five vehicles belonging to MPs were destroyed after stones were thrown at them.

The violence followed a demonstration by members of Mr Mutharika's party.

Earlier, the High Court ruled that former President Bakili Muluzi did not have to undergo questioning about his financial dealings with foreign donors.

Mr Muluzi's United Democratic Front is at the forefront of the bid to impeach Mr Mutharika, who was elected on the UDF ticket.

Mr Mutharika has fallen out with his predecessor over the probe into corruption allegations during Mr Muluzi's time in office.

Mr Muluzi had been summoned to testify at the Anti-Corruption Commission on Monday, to account for millions of dollars of aid money during his presidency between 1994 and 2004.

Armed guards

Heath Minister Heatherwick Ntaba, spokesman for Mr Mutharika's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), condemned the violence outside parliament and distanced his party from it.

"This was supposed to be a peaceful demonstration but was hijacked by thugs," he said. "This was not only a DPP demonstration; it had other people from other parties."

Musician-turned-politician Lucius Banda said he was astonished that the police outside parliament could not prevent the violence.

"Here was the most fortified place with armed guards guarding the president but they could stop these thugs," he said.