A TOP Malawian opposition leader, John Tembo, was ambushed by unknown thugs in his home district in the centre of the country, ahead of elections due on June 15, press reports said on Wednesday. Tembo, vice president of the Malawi Congress Party of the late dictator Kamuzu Banda, was on Monday returning from a campaign meeting when a fake roadblock was mounted and thugs smashed a windscreen of the car he was travelling in. One of the passengers in his car was reported seriously wounded after the attack. Tembo believes the ambush was the work of the ruling United Democratic Front of President Bakili Muluzi, as the thugs allegedly wore UDF bright yellow T-shirts. Police said they have arrested one person in connection with the ambush and investigations were under way.