Swaziland opposition leader has told a public meeting that the royal government must be "wiped out".

Mario Masuku was making his first public speech since being acquitted on treason charges two weeks ago.

I warn the king to open his ears, as a great tide is coming

Mario Masuku

The 51-year-old politician, who suffers from diabetes, had spent a year in a high security prison.

Swaziland is Africa's last absolute monarchy. Political parties and political demonstrations have been outlawed by King Mswati III.

Mr Masuku told the BBC Network Africa programme that he was expecting anything - including to be arrested again.

'Intimidation'

"Tinkhundla (Swaziland's royal government) can never be reformed. Our duty is to wipe it out completely," Mr Masuku, head of the People's United Democratic Movement (Pudemo) told a few hundred supporters in Manzini, 35 km east of the capital Mbabane.

"I warn the king to open his ears, as a great tide is coming. It will not spare him or anyone else, his wives and his brothers and sisters. The tide is so high; it is of the masses," he said.

King Mswati rules by decree

The gathering of several opposition leaders was held in a Roman Catholic church.

Mr Masuku denied that the turnout meant that his party did not enjoy mass support, saying that people were worried about government "intimidation".

In his recently ended court case, he was tried on charges of calling for the overthrow of King Mswati.

During his trial, Mr Masuku said that he was calling for the reform not the abolition of the monarchy.

The judge agreed and said the police had taken his words out of context.

The defence also claimed that the translation of Mr Masuku's speech from SiSwati into English had been faulty.

But speaking to BBC Network Africa, Mr Masuku stressed that the regime should be "wiped out".

He said it was similar to ending apartheid in South Africa.