Zambia: SA press causing anguish

2008-07-03 15:28

Johannesburg - The South African press has been blamed for fuelling rumours that Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa is dead, says the country's chief government spokesperson.

Mike Mulongoti said Mwanawasa was "alive and stable" in a hospital in Paris, France. He said the rumours were emanating from South Africa.

"The stories are coming from SA and have now spread to the rest of the world."

"I am appealing to the SA press to restrain themselves as they are causing anguish and pain to the Zambian people," Mulongoti said.

He said as chief government spokesperson he had the "official government position" on the matter.

And commenting on reports that all senior army and government officials were locked in urgent meetings, Mulongoti said it was normal government business.

"These are normal briefings and its government business as usual," Mulongoti said.

Mwanawasa was transferred from Egypt to France on Tuesday night after suffering a stroke on Sunday on the eve of an African Union summit.

Press reports around the world had been stating that Mwanawasa died on Thursday morning.

Websites such as "Who is Who " and the Wikipedia had updated reports of his death and added the date of his death to that of his birth.

The Star newspaper's afternoon edition front-page story was headlined "Stroke kills Zambian President".

- SAPA