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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| SA's Zuma denies rift with Mbeki | SA's Zuma denies rift with Mbeki |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| Jacob Zuma, contesting the leadership of South Africa's African National Congress, has denied suggestions of a rift with President Thabo Mbeki. | Jacob Zuma, contesting the leadership of South Africa's African National Congress, has denied suggestions of a rift with President Thabo Mbeki. |
| Mr Mbeki said earlier the current acrimony in the ANC was the worst he has seen in his 50 years in the party. | Mr Mbeki said earlier the current acrimony in the ANC was the worst he has seen in his 50 years in the party. |
| Mr Zuma told the BBC that policy will remain the same if he becomes ANC leader at next week's party conference. | Mr Zuma told the BBC that policy will remain the same if he becomes ANC leader at next week's party conference. |
| Mr Zuma was formerly South Africa's deputy president but was sacked after being charged with corruption in 2005. | Mr Zuma was formerly South Africa's deputy president but was sacked after being charged with corruption in 2005. |
| Do I look as if I've got horns? It's said that I block and inhibit open discussion - that's puzzling to me, it's completely untrue Thabo Mbeki class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/3499695.stm">Mbeki: Born into struggle class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/4615019.stm">Zuma: Comeback kid | |
| If he defeats Mr Mbeki in the leadership contest, he will be a strong contender for the South African presidency after a general election that is due in 2009. | If he defeats Mr Mbeki in the leadership contest, he will be a strong contender for the South African presidency after a general election that is due in 2009. |
| There has been speculation that a Zuma presidency would mean changes in economic policy for South Africa. | There has been speculation that a Zuma presidency would mean changes in economic policy for South Africa. |
| But Mr Zuma told the BBC's Orla Guerin this was an "unnecessary concern" since policy was determined by the party, not by an individual leader. | But Mr Zuma told the BBC's Orla Guerin this was an "unnecessary concern" since policy was determined by the party, not by an individual leader. |
| Investigation | Investigation |
| Asked whether he would resign from his position if new corruption charges were brought against him, Mr Zuma said he would only do so if found guilty. | Asked whether he would resign from his position if new corruption charges were brought against him, Mr Zuma said he would only do so if found guilty. |
| "Allegations don't mean the man is guilty," he said. | "Allegations don't mean the man is guilty," he said. |
| You can't unite the ANC by getting opposing candidates to drink coffee together Thabo Mbeki "Why should I step down when charged?" | You can't unite the ANC by getting opposing candidates to drink coffee together Thabo Mbeki "Why should I step down when charged?" |
| ANC structures in five of South Africa's nine provinces have indicated their support for Mr Zuma, in a contest that has become highly personalised. | ANC structures in five of South Africa's nine provinces have indicated their support for Mr Zuma, in a contest that has become highly personalised. |
| In an interview in the Mail & Guardian newspaper on Friday, Mr Mbeki said the acrimony within the ANC had reached unprecedented levels in the run-up to the leadership contest. | In an interview in the Mail & Guardian newspaper on Friday, Mr Mbeki said the acrimony within the ANC had reached unprecedented levels in the run-up to the leadership contest. |
| "The conflict is new even to ANC members older than I am," the president said. | "The conflict is new even to ANC members older than I am," the president said. |
| No criticism | No criticism |
| Asked whether there had been mistakes during his presidency, Mr Mbeki replied: "The disadvantage I have is that nobody says that. Nobody in the ANC stands up and says: you are doing the wrong things." | Asked whether there had been mistakes during his presidency, Mr Mbeki replied: "The disadvantage I have is that nobody says that. Nobody in the ANC stands up and says: you are doing the wrong things." |
| When the interviewers put it to him that this silence might be because of fear, the president said he was puzzled at this. | When the interviewers put it to him that this silence might be because of fear, the president said he was puzzled at this. |
| "I've heard this, and I don't understand it. Do I look as if I've got horns? It's said that I block and inhibit open discussion - that's puzzling to me, it's completely untrue." | "I've heard this, and I don't understand it. Do I look as if I've got horns? It's said that I block and inhibit open discussion - that's puzzling to me, it's completely untrue." |
| Mr Mbeki said he regretted that the divisions in the party had become centred on people rather than policies. | Mr Mbeki said he regretted that the divisions in the party had become centred on people rather than policies. |
| "You can't unite the ANC by getting opposing candidates to drink coffee together," he warned. | "You can't unite the ANC by getting opposing candidates to drink coffee together," he warned. |
| "People must be elected to positions in the ANC, not to lead factions." | "People must be elected to positions in the ANC, not to lead factions." |
| Succession struggle | Succession struggle |
| Mr Mbeki and Mr Zuma, once close allies, publicly fell out in 2005 when Mr Zuma was sacked as deputy president over corruption allegations. | Mr Mbeki and Mr Zuma, once close allies, publicly fell out in 2005 when Mr Zuma was sacked as deputy president over corruption allegations. |
| He could potentially still face charges in connection with a multi-million dollar arms deal. | He could potentially still face charges in connection with a multi-million dollar arms deal. |
| Mr Zuma was also charged with rape but was acquitted - he says the charges were political. | Mr Zuma was also charged with rape but was acquitted - he says the charges were political. |
| Mr Mbeki has already served two terms and cannot lead the country again, but correspondents say if he were to remain ANC leader he would be in a good position to decide who succeeds him as national leader. | Mr Mbeki has already served two terms and cannot lead the country again, but correspondents say if he were to remain ANC leader he would be in a good position to decide who succeeds him as national leader. |