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South Africa set for new leader South Africa set for new leader
(40 minutes later)
South Africa's parliament is due to choose an interim president, following the resignation of Thabo Mbeki. South Africa's parliament is due to choose an interim president to replace Thabo Mbeki, who is stepping down.
The new leader is expected to be Kgalema Motlanthe, who is currently the deputy head of the governing African National Congress (ANC). The new leader is expected to be Kgalema Motlanthe, deputy leader of the ruling African National Congress (ANC).
Mr Motlanthe is seen as a calming figure who could help heal tensions in the divided party. Mr Motlanthe is seen as a calming figure who could help heal tensions in the party, divided between supporters of Mr Mbeki and Jacob Zuma.
He will serve until polls next year, when Mr Mbeki's rival, Jacob Zuma, is widely expected to become president. He will serve until polls next year, when Mr Zuma, as ANC leader, is widely expected to become president.
Mr Mbeki announced his resignation on Sunday over claims of political interference in a corruption case against Mr Zuma.Mr Mbeki announced his resignation on Sunday over claims of political interference in a corruption case against Mr Zuma.
He denies the allegations but said he was stepping down at the request of the ANC in the interests of party unity. href="/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/africa_south_africans_on_mbeki0s_resignation/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/africa_south_africans_on_mbeki0s_resignation/html/1.stm', '1222275780', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=500,height=400,left=312,top=100'); return false;">South Africans speak out about Thabo Mbeki's resignation href="/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/africa_south_africans_on_mbeki0s_resignation/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/africa_south_africans_on_mbeki0s_resignation/html/1.stm', '1222275780', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=500,height=400,left=312,top=100'); return false;" >In pictures
KGALEMA MOTLANTHE 1949: Born 1967: Detained for 11 months1977: Sentenced to 10 years on Robben Island 1987: Joined National Union of Mineworkers, rising to become its secretary-general1997: Elected ANC secretary-general2007: Elected ANC's deputy president2008: Becomes an MP and minister without portfolio He denies the allegations but said he was stepping down in the interests of party unity, as the ANC leadership said it was recalling him.
Mr Motlanthe will be elected at a parliamentary sitting in Cape Town. The opposition Democratic Alliance has said its chairman Joe Seremane will challenge Mr Motlanthe in the vote.
But the ANC has a huge majority and so Mr Motlanthe's victory is a foregone conclusion.
He is a long-serving member of the ANC hierarchy and a man generally seen as a safe pair of hands, reports the BBC's Southern Africa correspondent, Peter Biles.He is a long-serving member of the ANC hierarchy and a man generally seen as a safe pair of hands, reports the BBC's Southern Africa correspondent, Peter Biles.
During the apartheid years, he was imprisoned on Robben Island along with Nelson Mandela.
After his release in 1987, he became a top official of the National Union of Mineworkers and then the ANC.
KGALEMA MOTLANTHE 1949: Born 1967: Detained for 11 months1977: Sentenced to 10 years on Robben Island 1987: Joined National Union of Mineworkers, rising to become its secretary-general1997: Elected ANC secretary-general2007: Elected ANC's deputy president2008: Becomes an MP and minister without portfolio Motlanthe: Safe hands But he only became an MP in May this year.
Mr Zuma is not an MP and so cannot become president.
The immediate task will be to ensure a smooth political transition, given much talk of feuding and divisions within the ANC, our reporter adds.The immediate task will be to ensure a smooth political transition, given much talk of feuding and divisions within the ANC, our reporter adds.
Mr Mbeki's departure has led to a flurry of resignations from the cabinet and caused uncertainty on the markets.Mr Mbeki's departure has led to a flurry of resignations from the cabinet and caused uncertainty on the markets.
The widely respected Finance Minister Trevor Manuel was among the 11 cabinet ministers who resigned but he has said he would be happy to serve a new president.
But Mr Zuma, who enjoys much of his support from people who say the government should do more to relieve poverty, has stressed there will be no change of economic policy.