LUSAKA. Dec 31: Zambia's former president Kenneth Kaunda has ended a hunger | strike he began after being de j talned under emergency laws on : Christmas Day. Tanzania's expresident Julius Nyerere said on Tuesday, reports Reuter.

Nyerere. a close friend of Zambia’s "Father of the Nation." visited him in the maximum security prison In the town of Kabwe on Tuesday and the two shared a small meal.

Together we had a nice drink of orange Juice and little biscuit. He broke his fast. Nyerere told reporters after spending several hours with Kaunda.

He did not comment on the prisoner's state of health.

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.