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ANC leader seeks to quash charges Supporters rally for ANC leader
(about 2 hours later)
The leader of South Africa's governing ANC, Jacob Zuma, is due to appear in court in a new effort to have corruption charges against him dropped. Thousands of supporters of the leader of South Africa's governing ANC have rallied outside a court where he faces a hearing on corruption charges.
Mr Zuma, 66, hopes to remove the last obstacle in his way to becoming South Africa's next president. Jacob Zuma is trying to have the charges dismissed and remove the last obstacle in his way to becoming South Africa's next president.
The former deputy president stands accused of corruption, fraud, racketeering and money-laundering over a controversial arms deal. He stands accused of corruption, fraud, racketeering and money-laundering over a controversial arms deal.
Hundreds of his supporters held an overnight rally outside the court. Supporters danced and sang during an overnight rally outside the court.
Thousands more are expected to arrive at the court in Pietermaritzburg. The supporters have promised to bring the city to a virtual standstill during Mr Zuma's appearance at the High Court in Pietermaritzburg.
This was to have been the start of Jacob Zuma's corruption trial but the ANC leader is challenging the state's decision to prosecute him, the BBC's Peter Biles reports from the city.This was to have been the start of Jacob Zuma's corruption trial but the ANC leader is challenging the state's decision to prosecute him, the BBC's Peter Biles reports from the city.
Under a cloudUnder a cloud
The shadow of corruption has been hanging over Mr Zuma since 2005 when he was sacked as South Africa's deputy president.The shadow of corruption has been hanging over Mr Zuma since 2005 when he was sacked as South Africa's deputy president.
ANC allies to come out for ZumaANC allies to come out for Zuma
He denies the charges laid against him and says he has been the victim of a political conspiracy.He denies the charges laid against him and says he has been the victim of a political conspiracy.
He also says that because of the lengthy delays he can no longer get a fair trial, and wants the case dismissed.He also says that because of the lengthy delays he can no longer get a fair trial, and wants the case dismissed.
His supporters outside the high court have promised to bring the city to a virtual standstill during his court appearance. The leadership of the ruling ANC is standing squarely behind him, our correspondent notes.
The leadership of the ruling ANC is also standing squarely behind him, our correspondent notes. The party says it expects Mr Zuma, a former deputy president, to be its candidate for president in next year's election, when Thabo Mbeki steps down.
The party says it expects Mr Zuma to be its candidate for president in next year's election, when Thabo Mbeki steps down.