LUSAKA, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Zambia's opposition Patriotic Front (PF) is pushing for an electoral pact with another opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) in the event of a presidential by-election, according to The Post newspaper.

    The local newspaper quoted PF sources as saying that "it is actually being dealt with at the top level. We want our cooperation through these meetings to culminate into an alliance or electoral pact because it seems likely that we are headed for a presidential by-election."

    The condition of Zambian President Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, who has been hospitalized in a French military hospital, recently worsened and required urgent intervention, Vice President Rupiah Banda said here Monday.

    Mwanawasa suffered a stroke on June 29 in Sharm-el-Sheik, Egypt where he was to attend the African Union summit.

    He was admitted into Sharm-el-Sheik International Hospital and transferred on July 1 to the Percy Military Hospital in Paris.

    According to the Zambian Constitution, a presidential election is to be called within 90 days if the president dies in office.

    PF and UPND are the biggest and second biggest opposition parties in the country.