Malawi's Muluzi appears in court to seek bail

Malawian ex-president Bakili Muluzi, who has been under house arrest over an alleged coup plot, received an ecstatic reception from hundreds of supporters when he appeared in court Thursday for a bail application.

Muluzi, accused of trying to topple his successor President Bingu wa Mutharika with the aid of a former army chief, has not been formally charged since his arrest on Sunday on his return from a holiday in Britain.

He has dismissed the accusations, saying the documents police showed him that linked him up to the alleged plot, were "laughable and fake."

Muluzi was not handcuffed as he arrived at the high court in the commercial capital Blantyre in a private vehicle, followed by several police cars.

Waving and smiling broadly, Muluzi, who ruled the southern African nation from 1994 to 2004, was surrounded by scores of officials of his former ruling United Democratic Front, although the crowds of supporters were barred from entering the court grounds.

"This government is is useless. It is useless and I am saying this publicly," Muluzi shouted out to reporters before the hearing began.

His chief lawyer Fahad Assani demanded that the court "release Dr. Muluzi without any conditions because the state has failed to charge him 48 hours after his arrest."

He said Muluzi was being "held as a captive at his residence in the terminology of house arrest."

The arrest was "illegal and unconstitutional. We demand Dr. Muluzi be released without any conditions ... That's what the constitution says," added Assani.

However the director of public prosecutions, Wezi Kayira, asked the court not to free Muluzi, saying: " Investigations are still in progress and there is great likelihood that investigations would be jeopardised and evidence tampered with."

Kayira said treason "is a very serious offence which carries a heavy penalty and borders on state security ... the state's position is that the applicant should not be granted bail."

He asked the court to give "very stiff conditions" if bail was granted to Muluzi.

Judge Joseph Manyungwa said he had "keenly listened" to both arguments and would give his ruling on Friday.

During the one-hour sitting, Muluzi was not asked to plead, but sat behind the defence team and kept exchanging notes with his lawyers.

He was later driven off in a convoy of civilian vehicles, led by a riot police vehicle.