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| South Africa set for new leader | South Africa set for new leader |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| South Africa's parliament is due to begin voting for a president to replace Thabo Mbeki, who is stepping down. | South Africa's parliament is due to begin voting for a president to replace Thabo Mbeki, who is stepping down. |
| Lawmakers are expected to appoint Kgalema Motlanthe, deputy leader of the ruling African National Congress (ANC). | Lawmakers are expected to appoint 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 party, divided between supporters of Mr Mbeki and Jacob Zuma. | 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 Zuma, as ANC leader, 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 in the interests of party unity, as the ANC leadership said it was recalling him. | 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. |
| Meanwhile, Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has said that Mr Mbeki's resignation was "devastating". | Meanwhile, Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has said that Mr Mbeki's resignation was "devastating". |
| South Africans speak out about Thabo Mbeki's resignationIn pictures | South Africans speak out about Thabo Mbeki's resignationIn pictures |
| Mr Mbeki was the key mediator during months of negotiations that recently led to a power-sharing agreement in Zimbabwe. | Mr Mbeki was the key mediator during months of negotiations that recently led to a power-sharing agreement in Zimbabwe. |
| "It's devastating news that President Mbeki is no longer president... but that is the action of the South African people," he was quoted by Zimbabwe's state-run Herald newspaper as saying. | "It's devastating news that President Mbeki is no longer president... but that is the action of the South African people," he was quoted by Zimbabwe's state-run Herald newspaper as saying. |
| "Who are we to judge them? But it is very disturbing." | "Who are we to judge them? But it is very disturbing." |
| It is not clear if Mr Mbeki will continue with his role. | It is not clear if Mr Mbeki will continue with his role. |
| Flurry of resignations | Flurry of resignations |
| The BBC's Karen Allen, outside the parliament building in Cape Town, said there was a real sense of occasion as lawmakers arrived for the secret ballot. | The BBC's Karen Allen, outside the parliament building in Cape Town, said there was a real sense of occasion as lawmakers arrived for the secret ballot. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY You don't know what you have until it's gone Serialong Kolisang, Johannesburg What next for South Africa? | |
| South Africa's opposition Democratic Alliance said its chairman Joe Seremane would challenge Mr Motlanthe in the vote in parliament. | South Africa's opposition Democratic Alliance said its chairman Joe Seremane would challenge Mr Motlanthe in the vote in parliament. |
| But as the ANC has a huge majority, Mr Motlanthe's victory is a foregone conclusion. | But as the ANC has a huge majority, 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |
| Corruption charges against Mr Zuma were thrown out by a court earlier this month on a legal technicality. | Corruption charges against Mr Zuma were thrown out by a court earlier this month on a legal technicality. |
| It remains unclear whether they will be pressed for a third time. | It remains unclear whether they will be pressed for a third time. |
| His supporters have long claimed that a series of charges against him were part of a plot to stop him becoming president. | His supporters have long claimed that a series of charges against him were part of a plot to stop him becoming president. |