President complained about loss of his "underpants" in police raid.

[emad]

BBC journalist arrested over ghost story
By David Blair, Africa Correspondent
(Filed: 17/03/2005)

The eccentricity of Africa's ruling class was on display yesterday when one president denied that ghosts had chased him from his palace and a former president complained about the loss of his "underpants" in a police raid.

In a continent noted for quixotic leaders President Bingu wa Mutharika of Malawi had not previously stood out. He has now, however, having arrested two journalists, one from the BBC, for reporting that exorcists have been summoned to the presidential palace. They were later released on bail.

Mr Mutharika angrily denied fleeing the property and declared that he had never been afraid of ghosts.

A presidential aide had been quoted as saying: "Sometimes the president feels rodents crawling all over his body but, when the lights are turned on, he sees nothing."

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