Riots prompt reinstatement of Zambian official

Zambia’s interim President Guy Scott, reversed his dismissal of defense minister and presidential front-runner Edgar Lungu as the ruling party's secretary-general on Tuesday after the move triggered protests.

Scott told state-owned ZNBC Radio he had rescinded his order a day after making it but did not spell out why he changed his mind.

The move on Tuesday came after police and demonstrators clashed in protests against Scott, who dismissed Lungu on Monday. Lungu said his dismissal was illegal and accused Scott of "insulting our culture."

The dismissal had triggered speculation that Scott, a Cambridge-educated economist, might have been making a play for the presidency despite the constitutional constraints.

"It could have been one way of testing the popularity of Lungu because it appears Scott and Lungu are from two opposing factions of the ruling party," said Lee Habasonda, an analyst with the University of Zambia.

"Obviously it had a serious backlash and he had no option but to rescind the decision," Habasonda added.

The riots started on Monday night in several places in Lusaka, including the University of Zambia and a government building designated as a place for Sata's mourners to gather, according to witnesses.

Protesters had descended on the building, Belvedere Lodge, with stones, machetes and other weapons, and police fired tear gas into the venue to clear demonstrators.  

Scott was appointed acting president following the death last week of President Michael Sata. He was born in Zambia to a Scottish father and an English mother and is barred from becoming president because his parents were not Zambian by birth or descent

Under the constitution, Zambia must hold a presidential election within 90 days of a president's death.

Lungu, who was acting president just before Sata, 77, died on October 28 in a London hospital, has been considered a possible presidential candidate from the ruling Patriotic Front party.

Lungu had often stepped into Sata's shoes as acting president in the last year. Many Zambians consider him the person most likely to win the presidential elections that are due by the end of January.

Other possible contenders include former justice minister Wynter Kabimba, finance minister Alexander Chikwanda and Sata's son Mulenga, who is currently mayor of Lusaka, a position his father occupied in the 1980s.

Al Jazeera and wire services