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| SA's Mbeki says he will step down | SA's Mbeki says he will step down |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| South African President Thabo Mbeki will accept a call to resign by the governing African National Congress (ANC), his spokesman has said. | South African President Thabo Mbeki will accept a call to resign by the governing African National Congress (ANC), his spokesman has said. |
| Mukoni Ratshitanga said Mr Mbeki would leave his post once "all constitutional requirements have been met". | Mukoni Ratshitanga said Mr Mbeki would leave his post once "all constitutional requirements have been met". |
| It comes days after a High Court judge suggested that Mr Mbeki may have interfered in a corruption case against his rival, ANC leader Jacob Zuma. | It comes days after a High Court judge suggested that Mr Mbeki may have interfered in a corruption case against his rival, ANC leader Jacob Zuma. |
| Mr Zuma was expected to succeed Mr Mbeki in scheduled elections next year. | Mr Zuma was expected to succeed Mr Mbeki in scheduled elections next year. |
| Mr Mbeki has called for his cabinet to meet on Sunday. | Mr Mbeki has called for his cabinet to meet on Sunday. |
| Parliament is expected to meet in the coming days to formalise the resignation, and is likely to appoint the parliamentary speaker as interim leader. | Parliament is expected to meet in the coming days to formalise the resignation, and is likely to appoint the parliamentary speaker as interim leader. |
| The decision to call for Mr Mbeki's early resignation was taken at a meeting of the ANC's National Executive Committee (NEC). [Mr Mbeki] agreed that he is going to participate in the process and the formalities ANC Secretary General Gwede Mantashe href="/2/hi/africa/7627556.stm">Mbeki left with few choices class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7626111.stm">Rise and fall of Thabo Mbeki | |
| The ANC's Secretary General Gwede Mantashe said the move had followed "a long and difficult discussion". | The ANC's Secretary General Gwede Mantashe said the move had followed "a long and difficult discussion". |
| He said Mr Mbeki, who has ruled for more than a decade, "did not display shock" at the decision and had agreed to participate "in the process and the formalities". | He said Mr Mbeki, who has ruled for more than a decade, "did not display shock" at the decision and had agreed to participate "in the process and the formalities". |
| The decision had been taken for "stability and for a peaceful and prosperous South Africa", Mr Mantashe told a news conference. | The decision had been taken for "stability and for a peaceful and prosperous South Africa", Mr Mantashe told a news conference. |
| The ANC secretary general said this was not punishment for Thabo Mbeki, adding that the president would be given the chance to continue his role as mediator in Zimbabwe. | The ANC secretary general said this was not punishment for Thabo Mbeki, adding that the president would be given the chance to continue his role as mediator in Zimbabwe. |
| At the same time, ANC cabinet members are being urged to remain in government to ensure continued stability. | At the same time, ANC cabinet members are being urged to remain in government to ensure continued stability. |
| Political interference | Political interference |
| The BBC's Peter Biles in Pretoria says this dramatic decision will fundamentally change South Africa's political landscape. | The BBC's Peter Biles in Pretoria says this dramatic decision will fundamentally change South Africa's political landscape. |
| Jacob Zuma: Comeback kid | Jacob Zuma: Comeback kid |
| Mr Mbeki fired Jacob Zuma as deputy president in 2005 after his financial adviser was found guilty of soliciting a bribe on his behalf. | Mr Mbeki fired Jacob Zuma as deputy president in 2005 after his financial adviser was found guilty of soliciting a bribe on his behalf. |
| But Mr Zuma returned to the political stage to topple his rival as ANC leader in bitterly contested elections last year. | But Mr Zuma returned to the political stage to topple his rival as ANC leader in bitterly contested elections last year. |
| Earlier this month a High Court judge dismissed corruption and other charges against Mr Zuma, saying there was evidence of political interference in the investigation. | Earlier this month a High Court judge dismissed corruption and other charges against Mr Zuma, saying there was evidence of political interference in the investigation. |
| In his ruling the judge said it appeared that Mr Mbeki had colluded with prosecutors against Jacob Zuma as part of the "titanic power struggle" within the ANC. | In his ruling the judge said it appeared that Mr Mbeki had colluded with prosecutors against Jacob Zuma as part of the "titanic power struggle" within the ANC. |
| The accusation was strongly denied by Mr Mbeki. | The accusation was strongly denied by Mr Mbeki. |
| Weakened position | Weakened position |
| Mr Mbeki, who has devoted his life to the ANC, succeeded Nelson Mandela as the party's president in 1997. | Mr Mbeki, who has devoted his life to the ANC, succeeded Nelson Mandela as the party's president in 1997. |
| He became leader of South Africa in 1999 and won a second term in 2004. | He became leader of South Africa in 1999 and won a second term in 2004. |
| Advertisement | Advertisement |
| Thabo Mbeki's political career | Thabo Mbeki's political career |
| Perhaps his biggest policy success has been South Africa's rapid economic growth since the end of apartheid and the rise of a black middle class - but to the anger of many, wealth is more unevenly distributed than ever before. | Perhaps his biggest policy success has been South Africa's rapid economic growth since the end of apartheid and the rise of a black middle class - but to the anger of many, wealth is more unevenly distributed than ever before. |
| He has failed to convince the trade unions and the poorest South Africans that the government has acted in their interest - providing space for Mr Zuma to mobilise a powerful constituency. | He has failed to convince the trade unions and the poorest South Africans that the government has acted in their interest - providing space for Mr Zuma to mobilise a powerful constituency. |
| Domestically, his government's handling of the HIV/Aids crisis and failure to stem violent crime in the country has weakened his hand. | Domestically, his government's handling of the HIV/Aids crisis and failure to stem violent crime in the country has weakened his hand. |