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LUSAKA, July 7 (AFP) - Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa said Sunday that his government is taking steps to amend the country's constitution to allow citizens with foreign parents to stand for the presidency.

The decision came after repeated calls from Zambian civil society for the removal of several contentious clauses from the constitution.

They include a clause barring those with foreign parents from contesting the presidency, introduced by former president Frederick Chiluba in 1996 in a bid to disqualify Kenneth Kaunda, Zambia's first president, from running again.

Kaunda's parents came from Malawi.

A clause that stipulates that Zambia must be a Christian country and one barring traditional chiefs from holding political office are also likely to be reviewed..

"The minister of legal affairs in close consultation with myself has prepared a memorandum for government to decide what form this exercise (constitutional review) is to take," Mwanawasa said in an address to aid donors.

"Government will then present a constitution amendment bill to parliament," Mwanawasa said. - Nampa-AFP

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