LUSAKA, December 27: Former President Kenneth Kaunda appeared in court yesterday, but the Government refused to release or charge the veteran politician in connection with his arrest on Christmas day.After the hearing, Kaunda, 73, was flown by helicopter to an unknown destination, raising fears among his supporters for his safety in detention without access to lawyers or family.Meanwhile, the US condemned Kaunda's detention and said, ``We call on the Government of Zambia to release him in the spirit of reconciliation and peace.''In a briefing to the Diplomatic Corps broadcast on state television yesterday, Zambian Foreign Minister Kelli Walubita confirmed widespread suspicions about the reasons for Kaunda's arrest.``He was arrested as part of the investigation into the attempted coup of October 28,'' Walubita told diplomats.It was the first time the Government officially linked Kaunda to the coup.Kaunda was out of the country on a lecture tour in October when mutinous soldiers seized control of the state radio and announced that they had overthrown President Frederick Chiluba. Loyalist troops quickly crushed the rebellion.At the hearing, Kaunda said in a sworn statement his detention was to ``facilitate the state's intention to eliminate me''.``The state intends to torture me as they have done to others. These tortures have been confirmed by human rights groups,'' the statement said.The judge adjourned the special High Court hearing to Monday after Kaunda's lawyers objected to the presence of about 20 plainclothes securitymen surrounding him inside the court.
