TUESDAY, 10.30AM:
ZAMBIAN President Frederick Chiluba has announced on state radio that he is back in control of the government a few hours after an attempted military coup.
“We are still firmly in control,” Chiluba said in a brief broadcast at 9.50am. He thanked loyal military forces for backing his “legal and democratically elected government'” and warned that “those who rise by the sword will fall by the sword.” he added: “I appeal to you, fellow Zambians, to unite and be resolute. We can’t go back to the Dark Ages.” Earlier, coup leader “Captain Solo” had appealed for support from the military, indicating that his power may have been slipping away.
TUESDAY, 8.30AM:
ZAMBIAN president Frederick Chiluba has been overthrown by junior army officers led by a ‘Captain Solo” on behalf of a mysterious ‘National Redemption Council’.
Senior army and police officers have been sacked, and the airport has been closed. Foreign airliners have been warned that any aircraft flying into Zambian air space will be shot down.
Chiluba is still holed up inside his Lusaka residence, State House. The coup leaders have given him until mid-morning to surrender, or face “military action”.
Solo described the coup as “Operation Born Again”, designed to “prevent the country’s slide into total chaos, crimality and corruption” under Chiluba. It appears that political parties will be banned. Chiluba’s chief adversary, Kenneth Kaunda, is presently in Johannesburg.
The situation in Lusaka, scene of several riots in recent months, is said to be calm. More details will be provided in the course of the morning.