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| Zuma fate delayed till September | Zuma fate delayed till September |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| A South African judge says he will rule next month on whether the corruption trial of the leader of South Africa's ruling party, Jacob Zuma, can go ahead. | A South African judge says he will rule next month on whether the corruption trial of the leader of South Africa's ruling party, Jacob Zuma, can go ahead. |
| Judge Chris Nicholson also set 8 December as a provisional date for a criminal trial. | Judge Chris Nicholson also set 8 December as a provisional date for a criminal trial. |
| Mr Zuma, who is favourite to become president next year, denies charges of corruption linked to an arms deal. | Mr Zuma, who is favourite to become president next year, denies charges of corruption linked to an arms deal. |
| His legal team have argued that delays in bringing the case to court mean he would not get a fair trial. | His legal team have argued that delays in bringing the case to court mean he would not get a fair trial. |
| For the second day running, a large crowd of Mr Zuma's supporters has gathered outside the High Court where Judge Nicholson set 12 September as the date he would give his ruling. | For the second day running, a large crowd of Mr Zuma's supporters has gathered outside the High Court where Judge Nicholson set 12 September as the date he would give his ruling. |
| The BBC's Peter Biles says Mr Zuma's supporters are waiting for him to address them, as he did on Monday night, in what was a colourful and high-spirited event. | The BBC's Peter Biles says Mr Zuma's supporters are waiting for him to address them, as he did on Monday night, in what was a colourful and high-spirited event. |
| 'Conspiracy' | 'Conspiracy' |
| Mr Zuma's colleagues in the leadership of the African National Congress (ANC) are standing firmly by him. | Mr Zuma's colleagues in the leadership of the African National Congress (ANC) are standing firmly by him. |
| They say he is been the victim of a political conspiracy intended to prevent him becoming South Africa's president in elections due to be held before July 2009. | They say he is been the victim of a political conspiracy intended to prevent him becoming South Africa's president in elections due to be held before July 2009. |
| Mr Zuma has said he will stand down as ANC leader only if he is found guilty of the charges - corruption, fraud, racketeering and money-laundering. | Mr Zuma has said he will stand down as ANC leader only if he is found guilty of the charges - corruption, fraud, racketeering and money-laundering. |
| ANC allies to come out for ZumaIn pictures: Rallying for Jacob Zuma class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7153378.stm">Timeline: Zuma's legal problems | |
| Critics say he is just trying to delay proceedings until after he is elected president. | Critics say he is just trying to delay proceedings until after he is elected president. |
| 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. |
| 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. | 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. | 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? |
| Send us your comments by completing the form below. | Send us your comments by completing the form below. |
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| At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |