Zambia Revolts

Three people were reported killed Saturday when hundreds of Zambians poured into the streets of Lusaka, the capital, to celebrate a reported coup attempt. The army had quickly put down the coup attempt by an army lieutenant and a group of rebellious soldiers, who acted after five days of anti-government rioting. Afterward, loyalist soldiers guarding President Kenneth D.

A court convicted 59 soldiers of treason and sentenced them to death for their role in a failed military coup in 1997, Zambian state television reported. Judge Japhet Banda of the Lusaka High Court said death is mandatory for treason and ordered the soldiers hanged. He sentenced another defendant to 21 years of hard labor for knowing about the planned coup despite not taking part. Eight other soldiers were acquitted. Defense attorneys said they would appeal. On Oct.

A Zambian army lieutenant was captured by soldiers after he announced on state radio today that President Kenneth D. Kaunda had been toppled in a coup following five days of anti-government violence. The announcer, who identified himself in repeated broadcasts as Lt. Mwamba Luchembe of the Signals Corps, was escorted from Radio Zambia's studio on the outskirts of the capital about 90 minutes later.

Former President Kenneth Kaunda walked out of the High Court in the capital, Lusaka, after the government dropped charges alleging he knew about an October coup attempt against his successor. "I feel great," said Kaunda, the Southern African nation's founding father, wearing the thick white beard he has grown since his Dec. 25 arrest. Supporters waved their fists, with fingers outstretched in V-for-victory signs, and cheered.

Former President Kenneth Kaunda walked out of the High Court in the capital, Lusaka, after the government dropped charges alleging he knew about an October coup attempt against his successor. "I feel great," said Kaunda, the Southern African nation's founding father, wearing the thick white beard he has grown since his Dec. 25 arrest. Supporters waved their fists, with fingers outstretched in V-for-victory signs, and cheered.

Two detained army officers told a court in Lusaka, the capital, that state agents tortured them to make them falsely implicate former President Kenneth D. Kaunda and other politicians in October's failed coup. Capt. Jackson Chiti said he was in such pain during the torture sessions that he implicated Kaunda and other opposition leaders. Another witness, Maj. Musonda Kangwa, said he also was tortured to make him implicate politicians. Chiti said he withdrew his confessions when the torture ended.

The country formally charged former President Kenneth D. Kaunda and two other opposition leaders with backing a failed coup, Kaunda's lawyers said. Kaunda, 73, under house arrest in Lusaka, was served with grounds for his detention by police, lawyer Sacika Sitwala said. The document said Kaunda, detained politician Dean Mungomba and Roger Chongwe, a human rights lawyer, supported and "sponsored" a failed army takeover Oct. 28.

Detained former President Kenneth Kaunda made a brief court appearance Friday and was then flown to a secret destination by military helicopter. Journalists and lawyers for Kaunda, 73, followed as a police convoy drove the opposition leader from the court to Lusaka's airport, where he was placed on the helicopter. Lawyers for Kaunda, who was arrested without charge on Thursday under a 28-day detention order, said they had not been told where he was being taken.

Prison officials refused Saturday to let investigators visit those arrested in a failed coup attempt, ignoring condemnation from human rights groups and a ruling from Zambia's courts. A state-appointed human rights commission was barred from Lusaka Central Prison, where 33 soldiers and opposition politician Dean Mungomba have been held since the Oct. 28 revolt.

A court convicted 59 soldiers of treason and sentenced them to death for their role in a failed military coup in 1997, Zambian state television reported. Judge Japhet Banda of the Lusaka High Court said death is mandatory for treason and ordered the soldiers hanged. He sentenced another defendant to 21 years of hard labor for knowing about the planned coup despite not taking part. Eight other soldiers were acquitted. Defense attorneys said they would appeal. On Oct.

Two detained army officers told a court in Lusaka, the capital, that state agents tortured them to make them falsely implicate former President Kenneth D. Kaunda and other politicians in October's failed coup. Capt. Jackson Chiti said he was in such pain during the torture sessions that he implicated Kaunda and other opposition leaders. Another witness, Maj. Musonda Kangwa, said he also was tortured to make him implicate politicians. Chiti said he withdrew his confessions when the torture ended.

The country formally charged former President Kenneth D. Kaunda and two other opposition leaders with backing a failed coup, Kaunda's lawyers said. Kaunda, 73, under house arrest in Lusaka, was served with grounds for his detention by police, lawyer Sacika Sitwala said. The document said Kaunda, detained politician Dean Mungomba and Roger Chongwe, a human rights lawyer, supported and "sponsored" a failed army takeover Oct. 28.

Detained former President Kenneth Kaunda made a brief court appearance Friday and was then flown to a secret destination by military helicopter. Journalists and lawyers for Kaunda, 73, followed as a police convoy drove the opposition leader from the court to Lusaka's airport, where he was placed on the helicopter. Lawyers for Kaunda, who was arrested without charge on Thursday under a 28-day detention order, said they had not been told where he was being taken.

Some of the soldiers arrested after a failed coup last month say they are being starved and beaten in jail and denied legal and medical aid, human rights investigators said. The investigators were allowed to interview a few of the men after twice being denied access, said Judge Lombe Chibesakunda, head of the state-appointed Human Rights Commission.

Prison officials refused Saturday to let investigators visit those arrested in a failed coup attempt, ignoring condemnation from human rights groups and a ruling from Zambia's courts. A state-appointed human rights commission was barred from Lusaka Central Prison, where 33 soldiers and opposition politician Dean Mungomba have been held since the Oct. 28 revolt.

President Frederick Chiluba declared a seven-day state of emergency one day after troops crushed a coup attempt. The government said it did not suspect political opponents of stirring trouble. But Milton Phiri, the envoy to Botswana, had earlier blamed the coup on former President Kenneth D. Kaunda, who left office in 1991 and recently has been attempting a political comeback.

President Frederick Chiluba declared a seven-day state of emergency one day after troops crushed a coup attempt. The government said it did not suspect political opponents of stirring trouble. But Milton Phiri, the envoy to Botswana, had earlier blamed the coup on former President Kenneth D. Kaunda, who left office in 1991 and recently has been attempting a political comeback.

Some of the soldiers arrested after a failed coup last month say they are being starved and beaten in jail and denied legal and medical aid, human rights investigators said. The investigators were allowed to interview a few of the men after twice being denied access, said Judge Lombe Chibesakunda, head of the state-appointed Human Rights Commission.

Rebels tried unsuccessfully to overthrow Zambian President Frederick Chiluba on Tuesday, raising fears of political instability in a country considered a bulwark of peace in Southern Africa. The putsch was thwarted about five hours after it was announced on state radio by the leader of a previously unknown military group calling itself the National Redemption Council.

Three people were reported killed Saturday when hundreds of Zambians poured into the streets of Lusaka, the capital, to celebrate a reported coup attempt. The army had quickly put down the coup attempt by an army lieutenant and a group of rebellious soldiers, who acted after five days of anti-government rioting. Afterward, loyalist soldiers guarding President Kenneth D.