LUSAKA, July 3, 2008 (AFP) - Zambia's government on Thursday said President Levy Mwanawasa remains in intensive care after suffering a stroke earlier this week, disputing reports that he had died.

Information Minister Mike Mulongoti told state radio and television that Mwanawasa was responding well to treatment in France and that doctors were happy with his progress.

He was being treated at Percy military hospital outside Paris after suffering a stroke while attending an African Union summit in Egypt.

'The president still remains in the intensive care unit but he is responding well to treatment. He has made steady progress,' Mulongoti said.

He described news reports that the Zambian leader had died as 'malicious'.