Blantyre - Malawi has detained seven more opposition leaders, police and an opposition spokesperson said just days after Vice President Cassim Chilumpha was arrested on treason charges in the small southern African country.
"It's true about the arrests," said police spokesperson Willie Mwaluka.
"We are investigating them in connection with the treason trial," he told AFP.
"They were all arrested by heavily armed police about midnight (on) Tuesday," confirmed United Democratic Front (UDF) spokesperson Sam Mpasu.
Mpasu, whose party ruled under former president Bakili Muluzi from 1994 until newly elected President Bingu wa Mutharika severed ties with UDF to launch his own party, said he did not know why the men were in custody.
"We really don't know why they have been arrested. Police have said nothing. We don't know what is happening," Mpasu told AFP.
Last week Malawian police arrested Chilumpha on treason charges and conspiracy to commit murder, and if convicted he could face the death sentence.
Chilumpha will stand trial together with his alleged accomplice, Yusuf Matumula, a prominent businessman who is also a close ally of former president Muluzi.
A Malawian minister has accused the vice president of plotting to kill Mutharika and "ascend to the high office of state president".
Mpasu named the seven arrested men as: Humphrey Mvula, a former close aide of Muluzi; former diplomat Muhamad Kulesi; Kamlepo Kalua, outspoken leader of the small Malawi Democratic Party (MDP); and top UDF officials Hophmally Makande, Shabaan Kadango, John Banda and Maurice Kachimbwida.
He said the leaders were being detained at different rural police outposts in the south and central regions of the southern African country. -
Sapa-AFP