I was questioned for 5 minutes - JJ

Ghana's former leader Jerry Rawlings says he has been questioned by the country's national investigating agency after he urged Ghanaians to "defy" President John Kufuor's government.

Speaking to BBC News Online, Mr Rawlings confirmed that he was questioned by police on Tuesday morning.

Mr Rawlings, a former flight-lieutenant, ruled Ghana for 19 years. His party lost presidential elections in late 2000, and John Kufuor took power in January 2001.

"Yes, I was summoned and obliged, " Mr Rawlings said, but insisted that the entire questioning lasted for only five minutes.

He said the police warned him he could be summoned again.

In a speech he made at Kumasi, northwest of the capital, Accra, Mr Rawlings is said to have accused Mr Kufuor's government of corruption and urged Ghanaians to practise what he termed "positive defiance."

"We don't have to wait for the next election to prevent the rot," Mr Rawlings said, referring to presidential elections set for 2004.

Former Ghana military ruler called for questioning after calling for 'defiance' of current government

ACCRA, Ghana - A defiant Jerry Rawlings, Ghana's onetime military ruler and president, was called before a national investigating board Tuesday after urging "positive defiance" of the West African nation's current democratic government.

Addressing a cheering crowd of supporters Saturday, Rawlings had called President John Kufuor's current government the "worst" in the history of Ghana, citing what he said were economic problems and harassment of the opposition.

"People should not wait for the next elections in 2004 before voting out the rot," Rawlings told his opposition National Democratic Congress.

Ghana's National Bureau of Investigations summoned Rawlings to explain his statement.

"Investigators will ... address concerns of the governance committee on the potentially treasonable nature of Mr. Rawlings' statement," said Nana Addo-Dankwa Akuffo Addo, Ghana's attorney general and justice minister.

The justice minister cited provisions in Ghana's constitution and criminal code that provide for up to life imprisonment for statements judged treasonous.

Rawlings, first brought to power in a 1979 military uprising, yielded power to the democratically elected Kufuor in 2000 and has been a harsh critic of the new government ever since.

Rawlings told The Associated Press on Tuesday his statements were not meant to incite an uprising — saying no one in once coup-ridden Ghana would support such a move.

"I'm not interested in a coup, but nobody expects a revolt before it comes," he told the AP after appearing before questioners with the national investigating bureau.

Government officials had condemned Rawlings' remarks to his party. Some among the public and among Ghana's media — even Ghana's state-run Daily Graphic newspaper — said he was within his rights to speak out.

Rawlings spoke with investigators on Tuesday morning, and was called back for an afternoon session.