Lusaka — THE Government has dismissed international media reports that President Mwanawasa has died.

Vice-President, Rupiah Banda said in Lusaka yesterday that the news reports carried by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Sky News and other sources were false.

Mr Banda said contrary to the reports, doctors attending to Dr Mwanawasa in a French military hospital were happy with the progress made and his condition remained stable.

"He has continued receiving treatment for hypertension in the Intensive Care Unit and there are no new developments. He had a satisfactory night at Percy Military Hospital in Paris, France.

"The First Lady, Mrs Maureen Mwanawasa, and family members are at the president's bedside. The nation will be kept informed on his condition regularly," Mr Banda said in a statement.

The story quoting somebody named Malone Zaza, who claimed to be a Zambian High Commission spokesman in South Africa, was originally reported by South Africa's Talk Radio 702.

But Foreign Affairs Minister, Kabinga Pande, said in an interview that the story was a total fabrication because the Zambian mission in South Africa did not have anybody by that name.

"We don't have anybody by that name. The story was fabricated and they just wanted to put a name to it," Mr Pande said.

Information and Broadcasting Minister, Mike Mulongoti, also said it was sad and irresponsible to publish a story of such serious significance without properly confirming its credibility.

Mr Mulongoti said senior Government officials in Zambia were in constant communication with the people at the President's bedside and it was just proper that such a story was confirmed with them.

"The media must appreciate that the president is a very important person. There must be morality in journalism because such reports can cause despondency and anguish," he said.

Meanwhile, messages for President Mwanawasa's quick recovery yesterday continued pouring in from a cross section of society.

Chairperson of the House of Chiefs, Chief Mumena said in a statement that traditional leaders throughout the country wished Dr Mwanawasa a quick recovery.

He said the chiefs stood in unity and were praying to God to deliver the president so that he recovers and continues performing his duties.

The Non-Governmental Organisations Coordinating Council (NGOCC) expressed sadness about President Mwanawasa's illness.

Senior Chieftainess Nkomeshya Mukamambo II of Lusaka Province said her subjects received the news of Dr Mwanawasa's illness with great shock.

The traditional leader said this in a statement.

"I, my subjects and the chiefs in Lusaka Province and their subjects are praying for his quick recovery," she said.

NGOCC chairperson, Marian Munyinda, said the illness of Dr Mwanawasa had come at a wrong time when a lot was expected from him at the African Union summit in Egypt and in the Southern African Development Community where, as chairperson, he has been instrumental in helping to resolve the post-election crisis in Zimbabwe.

The Mineworkers Union of Zambia joined the rest of the country in praying for the healing of Dr Mwanawasa.

And Mr Mulongoti said the call by South African President Thabo Mbeki to observe a minute of silence while at a ceremony in that country was erroneous.

Mr Mbeki called for a minute of silence in remembrance of Dr Mwanawasa at a ceremony in South Africa for those who died during xenophobic attacks in that country.

Mr Mulongoti said the act was wrong because the Zambian Head of State is alive.

But BBC yesterday reported that Mr Mbeki regretted the misunderstanding and wished Dr Mwanawasa a quick recovery.