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Da Reglllle Arrests Mutharika Ther, Ex-Ministers Ovet Plot

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Da Reglllle Arrests Mutharika Ther, Ex-Ministers Ovet Plot DAn.YNA_ . ~ 20 Tuesday March 12, 2.Z.: I POPE VOTE Cardinals finalise talks as conclave opens today Page 25 TALK I More arrests to fol low after 'conspirators' are taken in, says police officer da reglllle• arrests MutharikaI ther, ex-ministers ovet plot BY REX CHIKOKO NATION Correspondent and Agencies LILONGWE, Monday alawi police today ar­ rested 11 ex-ministers M and senior govern­ ment officials, including the former president's brother, for an alleged coup plot, sparldng protests met with police tear' gas. The group are accused of as trying to prevent then vice president Joyce Banda from gas ~Is coming to power last year, after fireq1 the death of president Bingu wa Mutharika. crowd "They are likely to be charged with treason," a senior police officer who did not want to identiJJ.ed sa1d. Among those arrested was former foreign affairs minister, Peter Mutharika - the brother of the late leader and his heir apparent. Peter Mut harika handed himself over to the police this morning. Police and government PHOTOI AFP sources said the others arrested Supporters of former Foreign Affairs minister flee tear gas yesterday included the former ministers for during a demonstration in Blantyre. Malawi police arrested 11 ex-minis­ local government, information, ters and senior government officials, including the former president's finance and sports as well as top civil servants. brother. "It's not political. It's not Another group of protesters, tiona! issue:• about Joyce Banda,'' current estimated to be in the thousands, Political analyst Ernest Information Minister Moses gathered nearby, blocking the Thindwa of the University ofMa ­ Kunkuyu said. main highway to the capital with lawi said the publication of the The arrest of the "coup plot­ boulders and branches. inquest sparked the arrests. ters" sent shock waves through T\le plot is alleged to have Malawi Police Service National Malawi, fuelling anger at Banda's taken place amid the chaos of Spokesperson Rhoda Manjolo government, which has been Bingu wa Mutharik'a's death confirmed that the arrests were much feted by the international in April. ongoing and she would provide community. Last week an inquest ruled the full list once they were over. Malawi police fired teargas that Mutharika died of a heart at­ She, however did not mention at around 500 people protest­ tack on the way to hospital after anyone arrested so far. ing the arrests outside police collapsing at State House. "The police have arrested headquarters, but the protesters some people in connection with failed to disperse and retaliated Death not confirmed the Commission of Inquiry re· by throwing stones. But his death was not con­ port but I cannot give the names firmed for two days and his because investigations are still According t~ the report, body was flown to South Africa on:' she said. despite knowing everything, as would-be successors sought The inquest report implicates party and gove'"Fent officials to buy time. those arrested of involvement in concealed the de~th and started Six ministers, including then questioning the legitimacy of planning the succession. local government minister Mrs Banda's right to take over In an effort tot prevent Joyce New to Joyce Hilda Henry Mussa, held a late-night as president soon after Bingu wa Banda from takihg over as per job: Mutharika's death. the constitution, party and Banda bom 12 April 1950, news conference a day after Mutharika's death to insist he Bingu wa Muthruika was taken government offi<1als are said to has been the president of was still alive. ill on April 5, 2012 and was de­ have urged the Malawi Defence Malawi since April 7, 2012. At the time Banda was the clared dead two hours after Forces to take ov~ government. A ftrst: Mrs Banda vice president who under the admission at the a government They also made efforts to go to (pictured left) is the constitution was next in line to hospital in Lilongwe. court. first female president in become the president. Malawi Constftution stipu­ southern Africa. But Mutharika had been lates that in the ~vent that the Tough stance: After grooming his brother Peter to President Is incapacitated, the taking office. she succeed him. vice president if expected to threatened to arrest Banda was eventually sworn 500 take over. Sudanese President in on April 7, after backroom Omar ai-Bashir, indicted dealings. A month after com­ Number of people Malawi pollee fired TO COMMENT qN THESE for war crimes, if he ing to power Mrs Banda alleged teargas at. They were protesting the AND OTHER STORIES GO TO attempted to enter the coup plot was "against this arrests outside pollee headquarters Malawi. country and not me. It's a na- ' .
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