Cole was reported missing on Friday 9 May.

The Lungu family's spokesman, lawyer Makebi Zulu, previously told the BBC that the family was not opposed to this, but it wanted a say over who would preside over the service.on Thursday, Mr Zulu said the family had put in place "all logistics" to fulfil Lungu's wishes to be given a private funeral and that Hichelema "should not be anywhere near" his body.

The government was behaving as though the family had "no say" over his burial and the way he should be mourned, Mr Zulu added.It was the family's desire that the "conscience of the deceased should not be betrayed", he said.The government has not yet responded to the family's latest position, but said in an earlier statement that "constructive consultations" were continuing to ensure a "smooth repatriation" of Lungu's body.

The dispute has caused much sadness and confusion among Zambians who are unclear how to mourn the ex-president.The government declared a seven-day national mourning period starting last Saturday, even though the PF announced one days earlier.

The government declared that the official venue for mourning would be a lodge it owns in the capital, Lusaka, but the PF dismissed this plan, directing mourners to its headquarters instead.

Constitutional lawyer John Sangwa told the BBC that the "tug-of-war" highlighted the need for Zambia to come up with a law which outlined funeral arrangements for presidents and ex-presidents, but he believed that at the end of the day the wishes of the family should be respected.However, Dr Chowdhury said he believed AI would not replace doctors, but instead it would work alongside them.

"It's still the doctor or the healthcare worker who is making the call," he explained."The AI is a co-pilot rather than a pilot - it's not flying the plane. The doctor or the trained healthcare worker is.

"The AI sits next to them and supports them in doing that job."The US has said it is not involved in Israel's bombardment of Iranian nuclear sites, an escalation that is threatening to send the region deeper into conflict.