A ZAMBIAN editor who sent a government official pictures of a woman giving birth without medical help to highlight healthcare issues has appeared in court charged with circulating pornography.

Kenneth Ngosa, senior private secretary to Vice President George Kunda, testified that Chansa Kabwela had sent him a complaint about a doctor's strike that had forced a woman to give birth outside a hospital.

The baby later died.

"In the letter, there were three pictures of a woman giving birth. I was hesitant to give them to the Vice President because he is my boss, but since he insisted I did give him the letter with the pictures," Mr Ngosa said.

"The Vice President was annoyed with what he saw and said he has never seen such pictures," Mr Ngosa told the court in Zambia's capital.

Ms Kabwela, news editor of the independent Post newspaper was arrested last month after she passed the images along to local women's groups and the Vice President's office.

President Rupiah Banda was angered by the image, and during a news conference last month ordered police to arrest the person responsible for the picture.

Members of the main opposition Patriotic Front packed the courtroom as protesters outside bore placards reading "Chansa be courageous" and "Rupiah Stop Pulling Us Down".

The trial continues today.

Source: http://www.news.com.au/