(AFP) – 8 hours ago

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5inOi_C9pNpIUK1PQ1OkGCOUYAtxw?docId=CNG.41983dae275c547ff110e193e65209d9.cc1

LUSAKA — Zambian authorities have called back the country's opposition leader for investigation as part of a probe into money laundering claims dating back to the 2008 elections, officials said on Tuesday.

"The Drug Enforcement Commission has recorded a second statement from the leader of the Patriotic Front Michael Sata in connection with the 100,000 dollar transaction at Finance Bank," the commission said in a statement.

"This follows Sata's failure to provide answers to some questions when he appeared before the investigators last week," said the statement.

The investigation stems from allegations that Sata made a 100,000-dollar (75,000-euro) bank transfer to an outspoken priest to destabilise the country ahead of the 2008 vote.

Edward Mumbi, the former secretary general of PF, claimed that Sata gave money to Catholic priest Frank Bwalya, a critic of Rupiah Banda's government, to campaign against the president and destabilise the country.

Mumbi has since defected to President Rupiah Banda's Movement for Multiparty Democracy.

Last week, police had to fire tear gas to disperse Sata's supporters who were protesting his appearance before the commission.

No formal charges have yet been brought against him. Sata was accompanied by his lawyers and declined to talk to the media.

Banda and Sata have both declared their candidacy for presidential elections due next year.

Banda narrowly won their last contest in 2008, claiming 41 percent of the vote to Sata's 39 percent.