Malawi arrests ex-ministers over 'coup plot'

By  AFP, Blantyre.

Malawi police on Monday arrested 11 people, including the former president's brother and a serving minister, for an alleged coup plot, sparking violent protests.

The group are accused of trying to prevent then vice president Joyce Banda from assuming power last year, after the death of president Bingu wa Mutharika.

Among those arrested was former foreign affairs minister Peter Mutharika -- the brother of the late leader and his heir apparent.

He was charged with perjury and soliciting to break the law at the Lumbazi police station in Lilongwe, his assistant Ben Phiri told AFP.

It was not clear if the group would also face the more serious charge of treason, which could carry the death sentence.

Police and government sources said the others detained included the former ministers for local government, information, finance and sports as well as top civil servants.

The current minister of economic planning, Goodall Gondwe, was also among those arrested.

"It's not political. It's not about Joyce Banda," Information Minister Moses Kunkuyu said, adding that the arrests were the natural consequence of an ongoing investigation.

The arrest of the "coup plotters" sent shock waves through Malawi, fuelling anger at Banda's government, which has been much feted by the international community.

Malawi police fired teargas at around 500 people protesting the arrests outside police headquarters in Blantyre, but the protesters failed to disperse and retaliated by throwing stones.

Another group of protesters, estimated to be in the thousands, gathered nearby, blocking the main highway to the capital Lilongwe with boulders and branches.

Daily Nation (11/03/2013): http://www.nation.co.ke/News/africa/Malawi-arrests-exministers-over-coup-plot/-/1066/1717738/-/ql95wr/-/index.html