Kaunda : Still a force in Zambian politics

Kaunda Shot At Opposition Rally

Mr. Kaunda, who isn't seriously hurt, has been campaigning against a law that stops him standing for re-election.

Mr Kaunda lost power in the country's first multi-party elections in 1991; since then he's been barred from standing for office.

He told BBC News the violence broke out when police told a few thousand opposition supporters in the central town of Kalbwe to disperse.

Mr Kaunda said he had told the police that no law was being broken and that it was not illegal to discuss their affairs. He said police then opened fire with tear-gas forcing him and other politicians to seek refuge in their party's provincial offices.

The former president said the police then fired tear-gas into the offices. When he and the other politicians tried to leave in cars, Mr Kaunda said the police opened fire with tear-gas and this time with live ammunition.

He was slightly wounded in the head, while another politician, the leader of the Liberal Progressive Front, Roger Chongwe, was more seriously injured. Both were taken to the town's hospital.

Mr Kaunda's United National Independence Party has said it will lodge a complaint with the vice-president. There's been no official comment.