Lusaka - A leading contender for the Zambian presidency has refuted allegations of inciting violence as campaigning in the race to lead the copper-rich nation drew to a close Wednesday with large rallies in the capital Lusaka.

Patriotic Front (PF) party leader Michael Sata said accusations from the ruling Movement for Multi Party Democracy (MMD) that he was stoking turmoil were unfounded, while refusing to commit to accepting the outcome of Thursday's election.

Sata, who was defeated in 2001 and 2006 presidential polls, is running against MMD candidate a former vice-president Rupiah Banda, who took over as Zambian when Levy Mwanawasa died in August of a stroke.

Lusaka - Friday's celebration of Zambian independence took a back seat to campaigning in next week's presidential election, with acting president Rupiah Banda and opposition leader Michael Sata slugging it out to succeed recently deceased leader, Levy Mwanawasa, amid warnings of possible violence.

Zambia's army chaplain Colonel James Phiri used the occasion of the country's 44th anniversary of independence from Britain to appeal to the candidates to denounce violence ahead of the October 30 poll.

Lusaka - The body of late Zambian president Levy Mwanawasa arrived back home from Paris Saturday in a gold coffin draped in a Zambian flag to a sombre ceremony at Lusaka International Airport.

The plane touched down in overcast conditions at 9 am (0800 GMT) to a 21-gun salute and a fly-past by Zambia Air Force jets.

The mood of sorrow that hung over his return contrasted with the joyful send-off he received when he left the country nearly two months ago for an African Union (AU) summit in Egypt.

Lusaka - The Zambian government announced Friday that the country's late president Levy Mwanawasa would be buried on September 3 after his body had been taken around the country for public viewing.

The date had been chosen to coincide with Mwanawasa's birthday, secretary to the cabinet Dr Joshua Kanganja said.

Mwanawasa would have turned 60 on September 30.

Mwanawasa's body is due to arrive back in the former British colony on Saturday from Paris, where he died on Tuesday after suffering a massive stroke in late June. His remains are to lie in state at Mulungushi International Conference Centre before being taken to all the country's nine provinces.

Lusaka - Zambia's cabinet met Wednesday to make arrangements for President Levy Mwanawasa's state funeral as tributes continued to pour in for the man referred to by some in Zambia as the "people's president."

Mwanawasa, 59, who was renowned for his anti-corruption crusade and criticism of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, died in a military hospital in Paris after suffering a massive stroke in Egypt in late June.

South African President Thabo Mbeki on Wednesday followed UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, US President George W Bush, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, African Union commission chief Jean Ping and other leaders in expressing his condolences.

Johannesburg - Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa relapsed and was in need of medical intervention after suffering a stroke earlier this year, South African media reported Tuesday, citing a statement of the Zambian Vice-president Rupiah Banda.

"Doctor Mwanawasa had been making steady progress until last night when his condition suddenly changed and required intervention," Banda said late on Monday.

The 59-year-old president had suffered a second stroke while attending an African Union summit in Egypt in June and has been undergoing treatment in a military hospital since.