LUSAKA, Aug 29 (Reuters) - Zambia sought to deny bail to five Egyptians and six Zambians charged with espionage for entering a restricted zone of Lusaka airport, two weeks after Zambian authorities said their plane had been seized along with guns, bullets, cash and fake gold. "The state must give reasons as to why accused persons whose liberties to freedom are being taken away must be denied bail," defence lawyer Martha Mushipe told the court. That fuelled speculation in Zambian media that some of the suspects might have sought to swindle gold buyers in a fake bullion scam. Two Egyptian security sources said the plane seized in Zambia had been inspected by authorities before leaving Cairo, but that bags with one of the arrested Egyptians were not searched, and this was currently under investigation. Reporting by Chris Mfula; additional reporting by Cairo Newsroom; writing by Tim Cocks; editing by Mark HeinrichOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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Persons: Davies Chibwili, Martha Mushipe, Zambian Mines Minister Paul Kabuswe, Chris Mfula, Tim Cocks, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: Drug Enforcement Agency, Zambian Mines Minister, Cairo Newsroom, Thomson Locations: LUSAKA, Zambia, Lusaka, Lusaka's, Cairo, Egyptian