Police in Malawi arrested four opposition officials on Tuesday, accusing them of plotting to remove President Bingu Wa Mutharika from power.
Malawian Information Minister Patricia Kaliati claimed to the Associated Press that the government has evidence that the four arrested were involved in "sinister plans." She denied that the arrests were politically motivated.
"They have been arrested as any other citizen would if they break the country's laws," she told the British Broadcasting Corporation.
Mutharika's newly-formed Democratic Progress Party (DPP) and former President Bakili Muluzi's United Democratic Front (UDF) have been involved in a long-running feud. The feud has created a stalemate in parliament, where the UDF members are refusing to debate any bills. Muluzi is vowing to challenge Mutharika in upcoming elections that have not yet been scheduled.
The BBC is reporting that the homes of former army commander General Joseph Chimayo, former Inspector General of Police Joseph Aironi, UDF Secretary General Kennedy Makwangwala and former Blantyre Mayor John Chikakwiya were raided early Tuesday morning. The four men have reportedly been transferred to the capital Lilongwe.
A lawyer representing one of the suspects told the AP that many other serving and retired police and military officers were also rounded up.
Over the weekend at church President Mutharika lashed out at former President Muluzi, accusing him of organizing a coup plot. "He is a coward," Muthariki said of his rival according to the AP. "This is treason. Even in Britain or America... a person who tries to take over the government faces punishment."
Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters
Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox
Muluzi, currently out of the country, has denied the allegations. He told a private radio station on Monday that he is "not a violent person."
"I think there is something seriously wrong with our president," he added.
Mustapha Hussein, a senior political science lecturer at the University of Zomba Chancellor College, told Voice of America that some Malawians will see the coup plot announcement as a setback. "It is a bit of a disappointment in the sense that the revelation is coming in at the time when people have great expectations and hope in view of the negotiations that are taking place," he said.
On Sunday, Catholic bishops in Malawi issued a pastoral letter calling for a peaceful and productive political environment. "This is not the time for outdoing each other by attacking personalities and characters, nor is it a time for buying voters. Remember that the first step towards violent behavior is violent language." the prelates said.
