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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| ANC members to choose new leader | ANC members to choose new leader |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| South Africa's ruling African National Congress has begun a congress in Polokwane during which it will choose its next party leader. | South Africa's ruling African National Congress has begun a congress in Polokwane during which it will choose its next party leader. |
| The two contenders are current ANC head and South African President, Thabo Mbeki, and ANC deputy Jacob Zuma. | The two contenders are current ANC head and South African President, Thabo Mbeki, and ANC deputy Jacob Zuma. |
| Despite corruption charges, Mr Zuma looks to be the favourite to win, the BBC's Peter Biles says. | Despite corruption charges, Mr Zuma looks to be the favourite to win, the BBC's Peter Biles says. |
| The choice of leader could determine who becomes South Africa's president after Mr Mbeki steps down in 2009. | The choice of leader could determine who becomes South Africa's president after Mr Mbeki steps down in 2009. |
| 'Bruising affair' | 'Bruising affair' |
| Mr Mbeki and Mr Zuma were sitting near each other on a podium as the conference was formally opened by Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota. | Mr Mbeki and Mr Zuma were sitting near each other on a podium as the conference was formally opened by Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota. |
| Delegates at the five-day congress in Polokwane, Limpopo, will see the ANC's first leadership contest in 58 years. | Delegates at the five-day congress in Polokwane, Limpopo, will see the ANC's first leadership contest in 58 years. |
| We're very worried that this leader [Jacob Zuma] had relations with a woman who regarded him as a parent Desmond TutuFormer Archbishop of Cape Town class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7146778.stm">In pictures: ANC election | |
| The campaign has been an acrimonious and bruising affair, our correspondent says. | The campaign has been an acrimonious and bruising affair, our correspondent says. |
| 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 well placed 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 well placed to decide who succeeds him as national leader. |
| Meanwhile, Mr Zuma, a former vice-president of South Africa, has conducted a vigorous campaign to wrestle the leadership crown. | Meanwhile, Mr Zuma, a former vice-president of South Africa, has conducted a vigorous campaign to wrestle the leadership crown. |
| He has also been warding off allegations of corruption and last year was acquitted of rape charges. | He has also been warding off allegations of corruption and last year was acquitted of rape charges. |
| If he wins, Mr Zuma will be in line to become ANC candidate for the country's presidential polls in two years' time. | If he wins, Mr Zuma will be in line to become ANC candidate for the country's presidential polls in two years' time. |
| Tutu's call | Tutu's call |
| On Friday, the former Archbishop of Cape Town, Desmond Tutu, urged the ANC to reject Mr Zuma. | On Friday, the former Archbishop of Cape Town, Desmond Tutu, urged the ANC to reject Mr Zuma. |
| Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma publicly fell out in 2005Archbishop Tutu, one of South Africa's most powerful moral voices, said delegates should "not choose someone of whom most of us would be ashamed". | Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma publicly fell out in 2005Archbishop Tutu, one of South Africa's most powerful moral voices, said delegates should "not choose someone of whom most of us would be ashamed". |
| "We're very worried that this leader had relations with a woman who regarded him as a parent," he told South Africa's Mail & Guardian newspaper. | "We're very worried that this leader had relations with a woman who regarded him as a parent," he told South Africa's Mail & Guardian newspaper. |
| This was an apparent reference to the woman Mr Zuma was acquitted of raping. She was a family friend less than half his age with whom he had unprotected sex while being aware she was HIV-positive. | This was an apparent reference to the woman Mr Zuma was acquitted of raping. She was a family friend less than half his age with whom he had unprotected sex while being aware she was HIV-positive. |
| Mr Zuma responded by saying it was "the business of the leaders of the Church... [to] pray for people, not condemn them". | Mr Zuma responded by saying it was "the business of the leaders of the Church... [to] pray for people, not condemn them". |
| Once close allies, he and Mr Mbeki publicly fell out in 2005 when Mr Zuma was sacked as deputy president over corruption allegations. | Once close allies, he and Mr Mbeki publicly fell out in 2005 when Mr Zuma was sacked as deputy president over corruption allegations. |
| The case against Mr Zuma was thrown out by a judge last year but he could still face charges in connection with a multi-million dollar arms deal. | The case against Mr Zuma was thrown out by a judge last year but he could still face charges in connection with a multi-million dollar arms deal. |