BLANTYRE, Malawi - Malawi's United Democratic Front (UDF) party, under whose banner President Bingu wa Mutharika took office a year ago, on Wednesday lodged an impeachment motion in parliament that could lead to his ouster.

UDF backbencher Maxwell Milanzi filed the motion on behalf of the party and said he had the support of the Malawi Congress Party, the other major parliamentary group in this southern African country.

"In accordance with Section 86 of the Constitution, the President, Bingu wa Mutharika, will be indicted by this house on grounds of serious violations of the constitution and the laws of the Republic of Malawi. Consequently, the President will be summoned by the speaker to appear before the House by himself or with his legal practitioner," the motion read.

Wa Mutharika, who quit the UDF to form his Democratic Progressive Party earlier this year, must appear in parliament within seven days to defend himself. The party has no parliament members and wa Mutharika has lost several parliamentary votes, convincing analysts that he would lose the impeachment vote.

Under Malawi laws, the vice president takes over for the rest of the term if the president is impeached. However, he can appeal to the supreme court, which could reinstate him.