Malawi anger at jailing of Mutharika critic
Lilongwe, 17 Feb – (ANA) - An outspoken critic of Malawi's President Bingu wa Mutharika is being held illegally and should be released, his lawyers have said.
Ralph Kasambara, who served as attorney general, was first arrested on Monday after reporting to the police an alleged petrol-bombing of his office.
He was released on bail on Wednesday but then re-arrested hours later.
Mr Kasambara was quoted in a weekend newspaper as saying the president was dictatorial and should resign.
President Mutharika won a resounding second term in office in presidential elections in May 2009, but has since faced criticism over his handling of the economy.
Mr Kasambara's lawyers said on Thursday they went to Chichiri maximum security prison in the commercial city of Blantyre, but the wardens refused to release Mr Kasambara - despite a court order.
UK-based ights group Amnesty International also demanded his immediate release.
"The rearrest of Ralph Kasambara indicates the Malawian authorities are willing blatantly to flout the law when it comes to dissenting voices," Africa deputy programme director, Noel Kututwa, said in a statement. (ANA)
FA/ANA/17 February 2012----------