The former Zambian president, Mr Kenneth Kaunda, has ended a hunger strike he began after being detained under emergency laws on Christmas Day, Tanzania's former president, Mr Julius Nyerere, said yesterday.
Mr Nyerere, a close friend of Mr Kaunda, visited him in the maximum-security prison in the town of Kabwe yesterday and the two shared a small meal.
"Together we had a nice drink of orange juice and a little biscuit. He broke his fast," Mr Nyerere told reporters after spending several hours with Mr Kaunda. He did not comment on the prisoner's state of health.
Mr Kaunda (73), who ruled Zambia from independence in 1964 until he was ousted in 1991 in the country's first multi-party elections, had been refusing food and water since his arrest last Thursday.
The Zambian government accuses him of involvement in a failed October coup attempt. Mr Kaunda has denied any connection with disaffected junior army officers who led the bid to topple President Frederick Chiluba.
Mr Nyerere said he had met President Chiluba after visiting Mr Kaunda in jail, but did not elaborate on the meeting.
Earlier, diplomats said Mr Nyerere, who arrived in Lusaka on Monday night with his wife Maria, was close to clinching a deal on Mr Kaunda's release after talks with Mr Chiluba on Monday.
Mr Kaunda appeared in court on Monday but his case was adjourned to Friday after his main lawyer collapsed.
Diplomats said Mr Nyerere's mission was part of an effort by eastern and southern African leaders to secure Mr Kaunda's freedom and lower the rising political temperature in Zambia.
Mr Nyerere, who ruled Tanzania from independence in 1961 until he retired in 1985, was a champion with Mr Kaunda of African liberation and pan-Africanism. Diplomats in Lusaka said Mr Nyerere's diplomatic initiative had the blessing of the United States, Britain and the Commonwealth, which have all criticised President Chiluba for Mr Kaunda's detention.
A spokesman for the Zambian presidency, Mr Richard Sakala, said Mr Chiluba would make an important announcement today. He did not give details, but diplomats said they expected it to be about Mr Kaunda's incarceration.
Meanwhile, police seized the passport of Mr Zaunda's son, Wezi, when he tried to cross into Zimbabwe. The younger Kaunda, a former Zambian army major, is also a close aide to his father.
Mr Kaunda had left the country before the failed October coup plot by junior army officers.