/ 21 October 1999

TOP LAWYERS TO CHALLENGE MALAWI POLL

AN alliance of Malawi opposition political parties announced on Thursday it willusetop Britishor other foreign lawyers to challengethe country’s June 15 general election results. The alliance, comprised ofthe Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and Alliance for Democracy (AFORD) said on Thursday that they have alreadyheld discussions with foreign lawyers. Malawi’s Justice Minister and Attorney General Peter Fachi responded saying that the government would alsocall in foreign attorneys to prevent the election results from being overturned. The alliance court challenge to the June 15 elections stalled aftertheLilongwe high courtordered that electoral materials from16 of the country’s 26 districtsshould be handed over for inspection by the opposition lawyers.