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Supporters rally for ANC leader Supporters rally for ANC leader
(about 6 hours later)
Supporters of Jacob Zuma, leader of South Africa's governing ANC, have rallied as he appeared at a court hearing on corruption charges. Supporters of Jacob Zuma, leader of South Africa's governing ANC, have rallied as he appeared in court to get graft charges against him thrown out.
Mr Zuma is trying to have the charges dismissed and remove the last obstacle in his way to becoming South Africa's next president. Addressing the cheering crowds in Zulu, Mr Zuma thanked them for standing by him through thick and thin.
He stands accused of corruption, fraud, racketeering and money-laundering over a controversial arms deal. The ANC leader stands accused of corruption, fraud, racketeering and money-laundering over a 1999 arms deal.
Supporters danced and sang during an overnight rally outside the court. He says he is the victim of a political conspiracy designed to prevent him from becoming South Africa's next president.
They had promised to bring the city of Pietermaritzburg - where Mr Zuma is appearing at the high court - to a virtual standstill during hearing. "In my life I have never been afraid of anything," AFP news agency quoted him as telling the crowd outside the high court in Pietermaritzburg, where some supporters had been camped out overnight dancing and singing.
But the BBC's Peter Biles reports from Pietermaritzburg that hundreds of supporters turned out, rather than the thousands initially expected. "Those who know me will know that I am not a coward. I have never been afraid of anything... I was willing to die for this country and I am prepared to die for it."
The supporters say Mr Zuma is fit to serve as the country's president, and no barriers should be put in his way. He then sang his trademark anti-apartheid guerrilla song, Bring Me My Machine Gun.
"I think he's got all the skills, he's got all the capacity, he's got all the strength to become the president," said one supporter."I think he's got all the skills, he's got all the capacity, he's got all the strength to become the president," said one supporter.
Mr Zuma has said he will stand down as African National Congress leader only if he is found guilty. Critics say he is just tryng to delay proceedings until after he's elected president. At the hearing, which will continue on Tuesday, his lawyers argued that delays in bringing the case meant he would not get a fair trial, and said prosecutors had not followed proper legal procedures.
Mr Zuma has said he will stand down as African National Congress leader only if he is found guilty. Critics say he is just trying to delay proceedings until after he is elected president.
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Supporters of the ANC leader hold a vigil in PietermaritzburgSupporters of the ANC leader hold a vigil in Pietermaritzburg
This was to have been the start of Mr Zuma's corruption trial but the ANC leader is challenging the state's decision to prosecute him, the BBC's Peter Biles reports from Pietermaritzburg.This was to have been the start of Mr Zuma's corruption trial but the ANC leader is challenging the state's decision to prosecute him, the BBC's Peter Biles reports from Pietermaritzburg.
The shadow of corruption has been hanging over Mr Zuma for several years.The shadow of corruption has been hanging over Mr Zuma for several years.
In 2005 he was sacked as South Africa's deputy president when his financial adviser, Schabir Shaik, was found guilty of soliciting a bribe on behalf of Mr Zuma and jailed for 15 years in connection with an arms deal.In 2005 he was sacked as South Africa's deputy president when his financial adviser, Schabir Shaik, was found guilty of soliciting a bribe on behalf of Mr Zuma and jailed for 15 years in connection with an arms deal.
Mr Zuma then went on trial, but the case collapsed in 2006 when the prosecution said it was not ready to proceed.Mr Zuma then went on trial, but the case collapsed in 2006 when the prosecution said it was not ready to proceed.
He was charged again last December shortly after winning a bitter campaign against President Thabo Mbeki to become ANC leader.He was charged again last December shortly after winning a bitter campaign against President Thabo Mbeki to become ANC leader.
ANC allies to come out for Zuma ANC allies to come out for Zuma class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7540721.stm">In pictures: Rallying for Jacob 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.
"There's a smear campaign for him not to be president," said a supporter outside court in Pietermaritzburg."There's a smear campaign for him not to be president," said a supporter outside court in Pietermaritzburg.
The leadership of the ruling ANC is also standing squarely behind himThe leadership of the ruling ANC is also standing squarely behind him
"We believe that Mr Zuma has been persecuted more than prosecuted by the NPA (National Prosecuting Authority) and he's been tried in the public arena," ANC's chief spokesperson Jessie Duarte said."We believe that Mr Zuma has been persecuted more than prosecuted by the NPA (National Prosecuting Authority) and he's been tried in the public arena," ANC's chief spokesperson Jessie Duarte said.
"It cannot take eight years to find enough evidence, if you have any, to bring a matter to trial.""It cannot take eight years to find enough evidence, if you have any, to bring a matter to trial."
The party says it expects Mr Zuma, a former deputy president, to be its candidate for president in next year's election, when Mr Mbeki steps down. Mr Zuma suffered a setback last week when he lost a legal bid to stop documents seized from his home and other locations being used as evidence in a trial.
The ANC says it expects Mr Zuma, a former deputy president, to be its candidate for president in next year's election, when Mr Mbeki steps down.
In February 2006, Mr Zuma was acquitted of rape in a separate case, though he was widely criticised for comments about sex and HIV/Aids.In February 2006, Mr Zuma was acquitted of rape in a separate case, though he was widely criticised for comments about sex and HIV/Aids.
Are you in Pietermaritzburg? Can Mr Zuma be president while facing corruption charges?
Are you in Pietermaritzburg? Can Mr Zuma be president while facing corruption charges?
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