Row threatens SA ruling alliance

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South African President Thabo Mbeki has been accused of personalising issues by a key governing coalition partner.

Communist party leader Blade Nzimande was described as "extraordinarily arrogant" by Mr Mbeki at the weekend in a row over economic policy.

Mr Nzimande hit back, saying his party welcomed robust debate, but it should be done in "a comradely manner".

Analysts believe the alliance between the ANC, the Communist Party and trade unions is closer to breaking apart.

Relations have become deeply strained over a divergent approach towards economic policy, says the BBC's Peter Biles in Johannesburg.

He says those on the political left are in sharp disagreement with Mr Mbeki's government about its conservative economic policies.

At a weekend meeting of the ANC's National Executive Committee, President Mbeki reportedly said Mr Nzimande "openly despised" the ANC.

In response, he said President Mbeki was "personalising issues".

"We need to have principled, comradely and inclusive debate and deal with the actual real problems which are about policy differences and also the stresses that are going on in the African National Congress," Mr Nzimande said.

This is not the first time the ANC leadership and the Communist Party have locked horns.

A few months ago, Mr Nzimande, launched an indirect attack on President Mbeki, saying that the presidency had become overly powerful.

Few believe that the Communist Party is strong enough to go its own way, and contest elections independently, our reporter says.