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| Voting ends in bitter ANC contest | Voting ends in bitter ANC contest |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Members of South Africa's governing ANC have finished voting to elect a party leader in a bitter contest between President Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma. | Members of South Africa's governing ANC have finished voting to elect a party leader in a bitter contest between President Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma. |
| Counting is underway and the result is due to be announced later. | |
| A BBC correspondent says persistent rain has dampened the delegates' spirits and there is less singing and dancing than on previous days. | A BBC correspondent says persistent rain has dampened the delegates' spirits and there is less singing and dancing than on previous days. |
| Correspondents say that if elected, Mr Zuma will become the frontrunner to take over as president in 2009. | Correspondents say that if elected, Mr Zuma will become the frontrunner to take over as president in 2009. |
| "The electoral commission is busy counting at the moment. The results will be known after six pm [1600 GMT] today," ANC Secretary General Kgalema Motlanthe told reporters after the voting ended. | |
| The vote was delayed for two days because of procedural disputes. | |
| LEADERSHIP RIVALS Thabo Mbeki, 65 Succeeded Nelson Mandela as president in 1999Presided over economic growthAccused of not doing enough to reduce povertyWon bid to host 2010 football World CupSeen as aloofFrom Xhosa ethnic group Jacob Zuma, 65 Played key role in fight against apartheidPlagued by corruption allegationsBacked by trade unions, Communist PartySeen as charismaticFrom Zulu ethnic group Mbeki: Born into struggleZuma: Comeback kidVote in pictures After two terms as head of state, Mr Mbeki will be obliged to step down but, should he win the party leadership contest, he could work to prevent Mr Zuma reaching the presidency. | LEADERSHIP RIVALS Thabo Mbeki, 65 Succeeded Nelson Mandela as president in 1999Presided over economic growthAccused of not doing enough to reduce povertyWon bid to host 2010 football World CupSeen as aloofFrom Xhosa ethnic group Jacob Zuma, 65 Played key role in fight against apartheidPlagued by corruption allegationsBacked by trade unions, Communist PartySeen as charismaticFrom Zulu ethnic group Mbeki: Born into struggleZuma: Comeback kidVote in pictures After two terms as head of state, Mr Mbeki will be obliged to step down but, should he win the party leadership contest, he could work to prevent Mr Zuma reaching the presidency. |
| Mr Zuma could still face corruption charges in connection with a multi-million dollar arms deal. | Mr Zuma could still face corruption charges in connection with a multi-million dollar arms deal. |
| Mr Mbeki arrived to cast his vote shortly after lunch. Asked how his campaign was going, he replied: "So far so good". | Mr Mbeki arrived to cast his vote shortly after lunch. Asked how his campaign was going, he replied: "So far so good". |
| The BBC's Peter Biles at the conference says the singing that echoed around the University of Limpopo campus in support of the rival candidates on Monday has largely subsided, and campaigning of any kind is banned in the immediate vicinity of the polling station. | The BBC's Peter Biles at the conference says the singing that echoed around the University of Limpopo campus in support of the rival candidates on Monday has largely subsided, and campaigning of any kind is banned in the immediate vicinity of the polling station. |
| Almost 4,000 ANC members began queuing early on Tuesday to cast their votes for the leadership. | Almost 4,000 ANC members began queuing early on Tuesday to cast their votes for the leadership. |
| The single polling station opened two hours late after a delay with the printing of ballot papers. | The single polling station opened two hours late after a delay with the printing of ballot papers. |
| Warning | Warning |
| Correspondents say it has been the most divisive contest in the long history of the ANC - for some this is a sign of a healthy democracy in action while others fear the split in the ANC could spell trouble for South Africa. | Correspondents say it has been the most divisive contest in the long history of the ANC - for some this is a sign of a healthy democracy in action while others fear the split in the ANC could spell trouble for South Africa. |
| Delegates were warned to behave or face disciplinary action on Monday after rival supporters tried to out-sing each other amid chaotic scenes. | Delegates were warned to behave or face disciplinary action on Monday after rival supporters tried to out-sing each other amid chaotic scenes. |
| South African viewpointsIn pictures Zuma supporters sang the anti-apartheid song Bring Me My Machine-gun, during pro-Mbeki speeches while Mbeki supporters retorted by singing Mbeki, My President. | South African viewpointsIn pictures Zuma supporters sang the anti-apartheid song Bring Me My Machine-gun, during pro-Mbeki speeches while Mbeki supporters retorted by singing Mbeki, My President. |
| Mr Mbeki had been booed and heckled during his opening speech on Sunday. | Mr Mbeki had been booed and heckled during his opening speech on Sunday. |
| This is the ANC's first leadership contest in 58 years. | This is the ANC's first leadership contest in 58 years. |
| In an address lasting nearly three hours on Sunday, Mr Mbeki did not mention Mr Zuma by name but stressed the need for "ethical leadership". | In an address lasting nearly three hours on Sunday, Mr Mbeki did not mention Mr Zuma by name but stressed the need for "ethical leadership". |
| Mr Mbeki said claims by the Zuma camp that he had centralised power were false. Growing unpopularity with Mr Mbeki's style of leadership has made Mr Zuma favourite to win. | Mr Mbeki said claims by the Zuma camp that he had centralised power were false. Growing unpopularity with Mr Mbeki's style of leadership has made Mr Zuma favourite to win. |
| Mr Zuma's supporters believe he would do more to reduce poverty in South Africa. | Mr Zuma's supporters believe he would do more to reduce poverty in South Africa. |
| Once close allies, Mr Zuma and Mr Mbeki publicly fell out in 2005 when Mr Zuma was sacked as deputy president over corruption allegations. | Once close allies, Mr Zuma 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. He was also acquitted of rape charges - which he said were politically motivated. | The case against Mr Zuma was thrown out by a judge last year. He was also acquitted of rape charges - which he said were politically motivated. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY The rise of Zuma is rooted in popular despair Southeaster, UK/exSA Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY The rise of Zuma is rooted in popular despair Southeaster, UK/exSA Send us your comments |
| Mr Zuma provoked outrage among Aids activists over the case when he said he had showered after sex with the HIV-positive woman to prevent infection. | Mr Zuma provoked outrage among Aids activists over the case when he said he had showered after sex with the HIV-positive woman to prevent infection. |
| Former President Nelson Mandela has said he is saddened by "the nature of the differences currently in the organisation". | Former President Nelson Mandela has said he is saddened by "the nature of the differences currently in the organisation". |
| The former Archbishop of Cape Town, Desmond Tutu, has said neither Mr Zuma or Mr Mbeki were suitable candidates. | The former Archbishop of Cape Town, Desmond Tutu, has said neither Mr Zuma or Mr Mbeki were suitable candidates. |