LUSAKA, Zambia -- President Kenneth Kaunda Thursday denied a British newspaper report that Zambia was giving refuge to the family of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.
A spokesman for Kaunda said the president called the report 'a pure lie' and reiterated that Zambia is neutral in the Persian Gulf war.
Kaunda, a friend of Saddam, went to Baghdad before the war to try to broker a peace agreement, but has refused to take sides in the conflict.
The Daily Telegraph reported Saddam's wife, Sajida, and a number of their five children had fled Baghdad soon after the war began last week and flew to Lusaka in a Zambian aircraft.
They had been given a home in one of Kaunda's personal lodges in the countryside, the newspaper said.
Staff at Kaunda's two most prestigious lodges said Thursday that no foreign guests were being hosted.
