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Mbeki defiant after defeat by ANC Mbeki defiant after defeat by ANC
(about 1 hour later)
South African President Thabo Mbeki has said his government will stay in office despite huge losses in elections for senior African National Congress posts.South African President Thabo Mbeki has said his government will stay in office despite huge losses in elections for senior African National Congress posts.
Mr Mbeki told a news conference in Pretoria that his government would serve until its term expired in 2009.Mr Mbeki told a news conference in Pretoria that his government would serve until its term expired in 2009.
Jacob Zuma, who defeated Mr Mbeki in the vote for ANC leader, has said the pair can work together.Jacob Zuma, who defeated Mr Mbeki in the vote for ANC leader, has said the pair can work together.
But a BBC correspondent says questions continue to be raised about having two centres of power in South Africa.But a BBC correspondent says questions continue to be raised about having two centres of power in South Africa.
Mr Mbeki urged ANC members to "respond positively" to Mr Zuma's comments, which he called a roadmap to unity. "I have no reason to assume that there would be anything that would stop the government serving the full term for which it was elected," Mr Mbeki said.
Many close allies of President Mbeki, including eight cabinet ministers, lost their positions in the party's National Executive Committee (NEC), while Mr Zuma's supporters took top posts. "So I would expect the government to serve its term until the elections in 2009," the president added.
Unity call
Mr Mbeki urged ANC members to "respond positively" to Mr Zuma's promise to "develop smooth working relations between government and the ruling party".
ANC COMMITTEE IN: Winnie Madikizela-MandelaTony Yengeni, former chief whip, convicted of corruptionNozizwe Madlala-Routledge, sacked deputy health ministerHealth Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang (known as Dr Beetroot) OUT - Mbeki loyalists: Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka Defence Minister Mosiuoa LekotaPahad brothersANC COMMITTEE IN: Winnie Madikizela-MandelaTony Yengeni, former chief whip, convicted of corruptionNozizwe Madlala-Routledge, sacked deputy health ministerHealth Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang (known as Dr Beetroot) OUT - Mbeki loyalists: Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka Defence Minister Mosiuoa LekotaPahad brothers
ANC members were voting in the 80-member NEC after Mr Zuma defeated President Mbeki on Tuesday as party leader. Elections for the ANC's National Executive Committee (NEC) confirmed the groundswell of support for Mr Zuma in the party, with several cabinet ministers close to Mr Mbeki being voted off the committee.
But Mr Zuma could still face corruption charges, which prosecutors say are imminent. He has said he is ready to go to court to clear his name.
Referring to the allegations against his rival, Mr Mbeki said: "All of us in the ANC have insisted, even... Zuma himself, that the law must take its course."
Mr Zuma's supporters have always said the charges are a political conspiracy against him.
Conviction
The ex-wife of former President Nelson Mandela, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, emerged top in the NEC vote in the northern town of Polokwane, endorsed by 2,845 of the 3,605 delegates.The ex-wife of former President Nelson Mandela, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, emerged top in the NEC vote in the northern town of Polokwane, endorsed by 2,845 of the 3,605 delegates.
She has not been active in the ANC since 2003, when she was convicted of fraud.She has not been active in the ANC since 2003, when she was convicted of fraud.
Earlier this month she stepped back into the spotlight when she proposed a face-saving compromise deal between Mr Mbeki and Mr Zuma - a suggestion that was not taken up.
JACOB ZUMA Played key role in fight against apartheidPlagued by corruption allegationsAcquitted on rape chargesSeen as charismatic Zuma enjoys crowning Controversial arms deal
A prominent activist against apartheid during her then husband's imprisonment, Ms Madikizela-Mandela was convicted of kidnapping in 1991, in connection with the disappearance of a teenage activist who was subsequently found murdered.
The election of the NEC on Thursday follows the election earlier this week of Mr Zuma and five of his allies to the party's most senior positions.
Among the prominent Mbeki allies who did not make it onto the NEC were national Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Minister in the Presidency Essop Pahad and his brother, Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Aziz Pahad.Among the prominent Mbeki allies who did not make it onto the NEC were national Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Minister in the Presidency Essop Pahad and his brother, Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Aziz Pahad.
Ms Mlambo-Ngcuka was appointed by Mr Mbeki after he fired Mr Zuma as deputy president in response to corruption charges in 2005. JACOB ZUMA Played key role in fight against apartheidPlagued by corruption allegationsAcquitted on rape chargesSeen as charismatic class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7154928.stm">Zuma enjoys crowning class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7153473.stm">Controversial arms deal
HAVE YOUR SAY Zuma himself has always demanded his day in court. He maintains he is innocent and it is only fair he has a chance to prove his innocence Frank Hartry, Amanzimtoti class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=3936&edition=1">Send us your comments class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/4615019.stm">Zuma: Comeback kid class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7153378.stm">Timeline: Zuma's legal woes Mr Zuma could still face new corruption charges, which prosecutors say are imminent. He has said he is ready to go to court to clear his name.
Her husband, former chief prosecutor Bulelani Ngcuka, is seen by Zuma supporters as part of a conspiracy to bring down Mr Zuma. Referring to the allegations against his rival, Mr Mbeki said: "All of us in the ANC have insisted, even... Zuma himself, that the law must take its course."
Other Mbeki allies were more successful, with Housing Minister Lindiwe Sisulu in seventh place in the NEC race, and controversial Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang at number 55 - several places behind her recently-sacked deputy, Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge. Mr Zuma's supporters have always said the charges are part of a political conspiracy against him.
On Thursday, chief prosecutor Mokotedi Mpshe told South Africa's 702 Talk Radio that the investigation into Mr Zuma was complete, and that "all we are doing now is tying [up] the loose ends".On Thursday, chief prosecutor Mokotedi Mpshe told South Africa's 702 Talk Radio that the investigation into Mr Zuma was complete, and that "all we are doing now is tying [up] the loose ends".
Mr Zuma refused to comment, only saying: "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it."Mr Zuma refused to comment, only saying: "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it."
The charges relate to a controversial arms deal, which saw Mr Zuma's adviser Schabir Shaik jailed for 15 years.The charges relate to a controversial arms deal, which saw Mr Zuma's adviser Schabir Shaik jailed for 15 years.
Tony Yengeni, former ANC chief whip, who was convicted of fraud over the same arms deal, retained his place on the NEC.
He was released from prison in January just four months into a five-year sentence. His strict parole conditions were relaxed to allow him to attend the conference.