BLANTYRE: Three people have died in Malawi following a petrol bomb attack on an opposition party office in the capital Lilongwe, a party member said, as the country prepares for an election rerun in July.
The attack, which took place on Tuesday night, targeted the United Transformation Movement (UTM) party led by Malawi's estranged vice-president Saulos Chilima.
The bombs also hit a family living above the UTM office, killing three and severely injuring three others.
"The family of eight was petrol-bombed as they slept in their family home," UTM campaign director Lucius Banda told AFP yesterday.
Six family members were taken to hospital after the blast, but the mother and a 15-year old child succumbed to their burns on Wednesday, Banda said.
Another 11-year-old child died yesterday and the rest remain in a critical condition.
The head of the house, Seleman Ajusu Tambala, worked as a security guard for the UTM office.
Police spokesman James Kadadzera confirmed the attack and said the perpetrators had not been identified.
The attack took place one day before Chilima and main opposition party leader Lazarus Chakwera presented their nomination papers for an election re-run in July.
Fresh polls were called by Malawi's Constitutional Court in February following a landmark decision to annul the results of a disputed election last May, which saw President Peter Mutharika narrowly secure a second term.
The court cited widespread irregularities, including the use of correction fluid on ballot papers.
The UTM has joined forced with Chakwera's Malawi Congress Party (MCP) in a bid to increase their chances of unseating the president.
Both Chilima and Chakwera attended the funeral of two victims who were buried yesterday.
"Today we are witnessing (the) worse in a multi-party democracy," said Banda. "It is very painful and very embarrassing."
In a separate incident last Sunday, thugs threw petrol bombs at a UTM party vehicle in the eastern town of Mangochi.
Malawi's ambassadors to the European Union, Ireland, Germany, Norway, the United Kingdom and the United States have voiced concern about growing political violence.
"We support those calling for restraint and hope that all cases of violence are investigated comprehensively and transparently in line with the laws of Malawi," they said in a joint statement. -- AFP