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LUSAKA, June 13 (AFP) - A regional media watchdog Thursday accused Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa of using oppressive laws to muzzle the independent media and intimidate journalists in the country.

The Zambian branch of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) alleged that Mwanawasa's government has continued detaining four journalists working for the independent media in a move aimed at silencing them.

"The arrest of journalists is clearly meant to stifle critical journalists and force them into submission," said MISA-Zambia chairperson Masautso Phiri in a statement.

"We consider their arrest as an attack on press freedom," Phiri said.

The four newsmen, from the weekly People newspaper have been in detention for over one week following their arrest last week on charges of defaming Mwanawasa.

"We therefore call upon the President to show good will towards the datained journalists by asking the director of public prosecution to drop the charges," Phiri said.

The People managing editor Emmanuel Chilekwa, assistant editor Shadreck Banda, senior reporter Kinsley Lwando and student journalist Jean Chirwa, were arrested on June 6 over a story claiming that Mwanawasa had Parkinson's disease. - Nampa-AFP

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