Youths charged over political violence

The court cases of 68 Malawians accused of violence and looting following last month's elections were due to start on Thursday in the northern town of Mzuzu. All the suspects, mostly youths, pleaded not guilty when they were formally charged on Wednesday, news reports said. Homes and mosques were torched in the political disturbances following the 15 June poll, and supporters of the ruling United Democratic Front in the opposition stronghold fled their homes. One of Malawi's main opposition parties the Alliance for Democracy (AFORD) on Thursday absolved itself of any blame for the violence blaming it on "sectoral in-fighting" within the Muslim community itself. Dan Msowoya, publicity secretary of AFORD, told DPA that the attacks on mosques in the north had nothing to do with party politics. Re-elected President Bakili Muluzi is a muslim and draws the bulk of his political support from the south of the country.