The leader of one of the factions of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) says the mood of the country is now against a third term in office for President Bakili Muluzi.

John Tembo told the BBC's Network Africa that he had supported the bill for a third term in July, but the mood of the country had changed and so he would now oppose it.

Although the bill presented to parliament in July failed to get the two-thirds majority to change the constitution, the government plans to try once more to change the laws to allow President Bakili Muluzi to remain in office, the attorney general has said.

The mood is much stronger now and I have to act accordingly

John Tembo, MCP leader

The controversial proposals to lengthen the presidential term earlier led to political violence, strains between the government and the judiciary, and caused divisions among religious leaders.

Christian leaders came out against a third term, while some Muslim groups supported it.

Mr Muluzi is a Muslim. Over 75% of Malawians are Christian.

The next presidential elections are due in 2004.

In July, the Malawi Congress Party, which governed the country for 30 years under Life President Hastings Kamuzu Banda, supported the ruling United Democratic Front over extending the period in office.

National referendum

Mr Tembo now says that he has changed his mind after holding a series of MCP meetings around the country which convinced him that the mood of the people had changed.

Asked by the BBC's Network Africa if this was a personal decision that did not necessarily reflect the views of the MCP, he said that "everything should be judged on the views and mood of the people".

The opposition politician said that the mood of Malawians had changed since July and there was now a stronger feeling against a third term for President Muluzi.

The government has a different view and on 10 September, Attorney General Henry Dama Phoya said that despite the uproar over the issue, many Malawians wanted the president to remain in office.

"We can't escape the fact that people still want Dr Muluzi," he said.

The new bill, to be introduced next month, would allow presidents three terms of office, which could be extended following a national referendum, he said.

Currently they can only serve two terms.

Constitutional amendments require a two-thirds majority in parliament. Mr Muluzi's United Democratic Front (UDF) has 101 out of 193 seats.

In July, the bill failed by just three votes, despite being introduced by the opposition Aford party.

Observers say that one reason for the opposition to allowing a third presidential term was Malawi's history of dictatorship under Hastings Kamuzu Banda.

Dr Banda had himself declared Life President and was in office as prime minister and then president for 30 years.

Mr Muluzi defeated Mr Banda in the 1994 elections.

Mr Tembo served as Dr Banda's right-hand man during most of his period in power, holding a variety of key government positions.

His opposition, if supported by his party's MPs, would make it very hard for the government to get a two-thirds majority, as the MCP has nearly one third of the seats in parliament.

But the MCP is split into factions and it is not clear how many MPs would support Mr Tembo.

Mr Tembo says his role now as an opposition leader is to tell the government the truth about the mood of the people.

Asked if he had presidential ambitions, he said: "The presidency comes from the people and nobody can dream about it in his own kitchen."