Zambian opposition leader in police custody: state media

Zambia 's opposition leader and presidential election runner-up Brian Mundubile was in police custody and being questioned, state broadcaster ZNBC reported on Thursday.

This comes two weeks after a disputed but largely peaceful presidential election , where incumbent Hakainde Hichilema was declared the winner by authorities.

Mundubile had been in hiding after police raids and arrests the day after the election, saying he planned to challenge the results in court as the government accused him of national security offenses and plotting an insurgency.

National broadcaster ZNBC reported that Mundubile and his running mate, Makebi Zulu, "have been handed over to police and are currently undergoing interviews."

It cited a police spokesman, Godfrey Chilabi, as saying the two opposition leaders were being interviewed by a team of law enforcement officers in the presence of their lawyers.

Chilabi told ZNBC that a statement would be issued once the interview process was concluded.

The broadcaster reported that the pair had been "under the protection of the United Nations" in the capital Lusaka prior to surrendering to police.

Police have also said that Mundubile was seeking refuge with an "international organization" earlier in the week, and said it was looking to question the opposition candidate and his running mate seeking to establish links between them and "various alarming activities... which have the potential to threaten or undermine national security."