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ANC nominates interim president Zuma deputy to be S Africa leader
(30 minutes later)
South Africa's ruling party, the African National Congress (ANC), has chosen deputy leader Kgalema Motlanthe as caretaker president, it says. South Africa's ruling party has chosen its deputy leader Kgalema Motlanthe to replace Thabo Mbeki as president.
He will replace Thabo Mbeki who formally resigned as president on Sunday, at the ANC's request. The African National Congress (ANC) said it had named Mr Motlanthe to take the position of caretaker president.
Mr Mbeki denies accusations of political interference in a corruption case against ANC leader Jacob Zuma. Parliament is to confirm Mr Motlanthe's appointment to the post, which he will hold until elections in early 2009.
Mr Motlanthe is set to stay in the post until elections are held in early 2009, which Mr Zuma is expected to win. Mr Mbeki resigned on Sunday over claims of political interference in a corruption case against his political rival, ANC leader Jacob Zuma.
"Motlanthe will be the president, not interim, he will be the president of the republic until the election," an ANC spokesman was quoted by the AFP news agency as saying. He denies the accusations but said he was stepping down, at the request of the ANC, in the interests of party unity.
'Rabble leader' 'Not a punishment'
In a televised address on Sunday night, Mr Mbeki said he had handed a resignation letter to the speaker of the National Assembly. "Motlanthe will be the president, not interim, he will be the president of the republic until the election," ANC spokesman KK Khumalo was quoted by the AFP news agency as saying.
Analysts say Mr Motlanthe's appointment is almost certain to get the stamp of approval from the ANC-dominated parliament - a vote which could happen on Monday.
Mbeki announces his resignationMbeki announces his resignation
ANC members met to discuss the new head of state after Mr Mbeki, in a televised address on Sunday night, said he had tendered his resignation to the speaker of the National Assembly.
He said he would leave his post as soon as a new president took office.He said he would leave his post as soon as a new president took office.
ANC General Secretary Gwede Mantashe said the decision to ask for Mr Mbeki's resignation was taken to avoid divisions in the party.ANC General Secretary Gwede Mantashe said the decision to ask for Mr Mbeki's resignation was taken to avoid divisions in the party.
"A united ANC is good for the country and it ensures that there is certainty and predictability, that is important for the markets," Mr Mantashe told the BBC."A united ANC is good for the country and it ensures that there is certainty and predictability, that is important for the markets," Mr Mantashe told the BBC.
He said Mr Zuma would not take over immediately but would wait for general elections when, if voted in, he would be "a people's president".He said Mr Zuma would not take over immediately but would wait for general elections when, if voted in, he would be "a people's president".
Mr Mantashe has said the resignation call was not a punishment for Mr Mbeki and that the president would be given the chance to continue his role as mediator in Zimbabwe.Mr Mantashe has said the resignation call was not a punishment for Mr Mbeki and that the president would be given the chance to continue his role as mediator in Zimbabwe.
[Mr Zuma]is the leader of a rabble out to grab the spoils of state for their own interests Helen Zille, Democratic Alliance However, the main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, has said Mr Zuma had "got what he wanted" from Mr Mbeki's resignation.[Mr Zuma]is the leader of a rabble out to grab the spoils of state for their own interests Helen Zille, Democratic Alliance However, the main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, has said Mr Zuma had "got what he wanted" from Mr Mbeki's resignation.
Party leader Helen Zille told the BBC's Network Africa programme that Mr Zuma wanted "a political solution to his legal problems".Party leader Helen Zille told the BBC's Network Africa programme that Mr Zuma wanted "a political solution to his legal problems".
"I can tell you that that is what this is about and nothing else," she said."I can tell you that that is what this is about and nothing else," she said.
Ms Zille praised Mr Mbeki as a strategic thinker and a "man of great intellect" who had been at the forefront of peacemaking in Africa.Ms Zille praised Mr Mbeki as a strategic thinker and a "man of great intellect" who had been at the forefront of peacemaking in Africa.
In comparison, she said Mr Zuma was "the leader of a rabble out to grab the spoils of state for their own interests".In comparison, she said Mr Zuma was "the leader of a rabble out to grab the spoils of state for their own interests".
The ANC has been at pains to say that it wants Mbeki loyalists to remain in their posts in the interests of stability, says our correspondent.The ANC has been at pains to say that it wants Mbeki loyalists to remain in their posts in the interests of stability, says our correspondent.
Impassioned defenceImpassioned defence
Mr Mbeki formally resigned on Sunday, following a meeting of the ANC's National Executive Committee. Mr Mbeki formally resigned following a meeting of the ANC's National Executive Committee.
We have never compromised the right of the National Prosecuting Authority to decide whom it wished to prosecute or not to prosecute Thabo Mbeki Mbeki left with few choices Rise and fall of Thabo MbekiSend us your comments The move came days after a high court judge suggested that he might have interfered in a corruption case against Mr Zuma.We have never compromised the right of the National Prosecuting Authority to decide whom it wished to prosecute or not to prosecute Thabo Mbeki Mbeki left with few choices Rise and fall of Thabo MbekiSend us your comments The move came days after a high court judge suggested that he might have interfered in a corruption case against Mr Zuma.
But during his television address, Mr Mbeki made an impassioned defence of his position.But during his television address, Mr Mbeki made an impassioned defence of his position.
Neither he nor his cabinet had made any attempt to meddle with the judicial process, he said, and he dismissed any suggestion he had been trying to shape the judgement for his own political ends.Neither he nor his cabinet had made any attempt to meddle with the judicial process, he said, and he dismissed any suggestion he had been trying to shape the judgement for his own political ends.
"Again I would like to state this categorically: that we have never done this and therefore never compromised the right of the National Prosecuting Authority to decide whom it wished to prosecute or not to prosecute," he said."Again I would like to state this categorically: that we have never done this and therefore never compromised the right of the National Prosecuting Authority to decide whom it wished to prosecute or not to prosecute," he said.
He said this also applied to the "painful matter" of corruption charges against Mr Zuma.He said this also applied to the "painful matter" of corruption charges against Mr Zuma.
Mr Mbeki said he would remain a member of the ANC and respect its decisions. Correspondents say this was a clear signal that he was keen to make the transition as smooth as possible.Mr Mbeki said he would remain a member of the ANC and respect its decisions. Correspondents say this was a clear signal that he was keen to make the transition as smooth as possible.
Political interferencePolitical interference
Mr Mbeki fired Mr Zuma as deputy president in 2005 after his financial adviser was found guilty of soliciting a bribe on his behalf.Mr Mbeki fired Mr Zuma as deputy president in 2005 after his financial adviser was found guilty of soliciting a bribe on his behalf.
Jacob Zuma: Comeback kidJacob Zuma: Comeback kid
But Mr Zuma returned to the political stage to topple his rival as ANC leader in bitterly contested elections last year.But Mr Zuma returned to the political stage to topple his rival as ANC leader in bitterly contested elections last year.
Earlier this month, a High Court judge dismissed corruption and other charges against Mr Zuma, saying there was evidence of political interference in the investigation.Earlier this month, a High Court judge dismissed corruption and other charges against Mr Zuma, saying there was evidence of political interference in the investigation.
In his ruling, the judge said it appeared that Mr Mbeki had colluded with prosecutors against Mr Zuma as part of the "titanic power struggle" within the ANC.
Mr Mbeki became leader of South Africa in 1999 and won a second term in 2004.Mr Mbeki became leader of South Africa in 1999 and won a second term in 2004.
Perhaps his biggest policy success has been South Africa's rapid economic growth since the end of apartheid and the rise of a black middle class - but to the anger of many, wealth is more unevenly distributed than ever before.Perhaps his biggest policy success has been South Africa's rapid economic growth since the end of apartheid and the rise of a black middle class - but to the anger of many, wealth is more unevenly distributed than ever before.
He has failed to convince the trade unions and the poorest South Africans that the government has acted in their interest - providing space for Mr Zuma to mobilise a powerful constituency.He has failed to convince the trade unions and the poorest South Africans that the government has acted in their interest - providing space for Mr Zuma to mobilise a powerful constituency.
Domestically, his government's handling of the HIV/Aids crisis and failure to stem violent crime in the country also weakened his hand.Domestically, his government's handling of the HIV/Aids crisis and failure to stem violent crime in the country also weakened his hand.