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| Zuma goes on trial for corruption | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The corruption trial of former South African Deputy President Jacob Zuma has begun in the Pietermaritzburg High Court in the east of the country. | |
| Mr Zuma and his co-accused, French arms firm Thint, face charges in connection with a bribe allegedly paid to Mr Zuma. | Mr Zuma and his co-accused, French arms firm Thint, face charges in connection with a bribe allegedly paid to Mr Zuma. |
| Defence lawyers have called for the case to be thrown out of court. | Defence lawyers have called for the case to be thrown out of court. |
| Hundreds of Mr Zuma's supporters, who stood by him during a separate rape trial in which he was acquitted in May, held an overnight vigil at the court. | Hundreds of Mr Zuma's supporters, who stood by him during a separate rape trial in which he was acquitted in May, held an overnight vigil at the court. |
| The case could determine the political future of a man who remains one of South Africa's most popular politicians, and who is believed still to harbour ambitions to the presidency. | The case could determine the political future of a man who remains one of South Africa's most popular politicians, and who is believed still to harbour ambitions to the presidency. |
| Vendetta | Vendetta |
| Mr Zuma sat in the dock wearing a dark suit, and smiled and put his hands together in greeting to his supporters, reports the South African Press Association. | |
| Banners carried by his supporters outside the court included the slogan "fight conspiracy and demand justice". | |
| Some of his supporters believe that the charges against Mr Zuma are the result of a political vendetta. | Some of his supporters believe that the charges against Mr Zuma are the result of a political vendetta. |
| Mr Zuma is believed still to harbour presidential ambitionsMr Zuma was sacked from the government more than a year ago when his financial adviser Schabir Shaik was found guilty of corruption in a case that arose from a government arms procurement deal in the 1990s. | Mr Zuma is believed still to harbour presidential ambitionsMr Zuma was sacked from the government more than a year ago when his financial adviser Schabir Shaik was found guilty of corruption in a case that arose from a government arms procurement deal in the 1990s. |
| The judge said there had been a generally corrupt relationship between Mr Shaik and Mr Zuma, and evidence led in Mr Shaik's trial prompted the National Prosecuting Authority to start investigating charges against Mr Zuma. | The judge said there had been a generally corrupt relationship between Mr Shaik and Mr Zuma, and evidence led in Mr Shaik's trial prompted the National Prosecuting Authority to start investigating charges against Mr Zuma. |
| Although the investigation prompted President Thabo Mbeki to relieve Mr Zuma of his duties as deputy president, he kept his position of deputy leader of the ANC. | Although the investigation prompted President Thabo Mbeki to relieve Mr Zuma of his duties as deputy president, he kept his position of deputy leader of the ANC. |
| He first appeared in connection with the corruption allegations in the Durban magistrate's court in October, and prosecutors have spent the intervening period collecting and examining evidence. | He first appeared in connection with the corruption allegations in the Durban magistrate's court in October, and prosecutors have spent the intervening period collecting and examining evidence. |
| Late last year, Mr Zuma was accused of rape by the daughter of a family friend, giving rise to a separate trial, in which he was acquitted. | Late last year, Mr Zuma was accused of rape by the daughter of a family friend, giving rise to a separate trial, in which he was acquitted. |