ANC supporter killed in ambush

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A supporter of South Africa's ruling African National Congress has been shot dead and seven hurt while celebrating the party's recent election success.

Their motorcade was ambushed outside Pietermaritzburg in KwaZulu-Natal, an ANC provincial spokesman said.

The party alleges the opposition Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) was behind the attack.

The ANC made significant inroads against the IFP in KwaZulu-Natal, home province of ANC leader Jacob Zuma.

IFP's Albert Mncwango said the ANC accusation was provocative and the police should be left to investigate Monday's incident.

'Bitter lynch mob'

The attack took place on Freedom Day, a public holiday when many people were celebrating the ANC's electoral gains in the province.

"This is the latest in a string of attacks orchestrated by a bitter lynch mob who cannot accept the democratic will of the people of KwaZulu-Natal," the South African Press Association (Sapa) quotes ANC provincial secretary Senzo Mchunu as saying.

According to Sapa, a spokesman for the ambulance service said the scene was tense between supporters of opposing political parties.

The region was wracked by violence between the IFP and ANC in the late 1980s and early 1990s, before the first democratic elections in 1994.

Mr Zuma, who will be sworn in as president in two weeks' time after his election by the new parliament, is credited with ending the unrest.