Zambia's interim president reinstates fired presidential hopeful

LUSAKA, Zambia, Nov. 4 (UPI) -- Zambia's interim President Guy Scott reinstated the defense minister and ruling party chief, Edgar Lungu, on Tuesday, a day after firing him.

The unexplained sacking of Lungu, considered a presidential front-runner, spurred riots in the capital amid speculation of a power struggle.

Lungu called his dismissal "illegal and provocative."

In response, Patriotic Front party officials convened an emergency meeting on Tuesday, announcing afterward "The position of PF Secretary General will remain with Lungu."

The PF also called for peace in the streets, declaring "It is completely unacceptable that our grief and mourning be marred by violence and disorder."

President Michael Sata died of undisclosed causes on Oct. 28 at a London hospital. According to the constitution, Vice President Guy Scott -- a white man of Scottish descent -- assumed the role of interim president for a period of 90 days. Scott is the first white leader of an African state since apartheid.

The 70-year-old Scott is ineligible to run for president, however, because his parents were born in Britain, not in Zambia, as required by the constitution.

Scott is believed to favor Lungu rival and former Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba as Sata's successor.