Zambia: No reprieve for arrested opposition party supporters

Police are ignoring appeals for the release of over 100 people facing charges of riotous behaviour in the wake of Zambia's bitterly contested fourth multiparty elections. "All those we picked up in Lusaka [the capital] have been formally arrested and charged with riotous behaviour, and they have to appear in court to answer charges according to the law -there are no two ways about it," said police spokesman Bonny Kapeso. Supporters of Michael Sata, leader of the opposition Patriotic Front (PF) party, went on the rampage after it became clear on the second day of counting after the poll on 28 September that his bid for the presidency was lost, and President Levy Mwanawasa would secure a second and final five-year term of office.