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Zuma: I was victim of power abuse Zuma: I was victim of power abuse
(about 3 hours later)
The leader of South Africa's governing party has said he was a "victim of a systematic abuse of power", a day after a graft case against him collapsed.The leader of South Africa's governing party has said he was a "victim of a systematic abuse of power", a day after a graft case against him collapsed.
African National Congress chief Jacob Zuma told reporters after the charges were formally dropped that there had never been a case against him.African National Congress chief Jacob Zuma told reporters after the charges were formally dropped that there had never been a case against him.
The National Prosecution Authority (NPA) threw out the case on Monday, blaming political interference.The National Prosecution Authority (NPA) threw out the case on Monday, blaming political interference.
But the main opposition party has mounted a legal challenge to the move.But the main opposition party has mounted a legal challenge to the move.
The development comes barely two weeks before general elections, which the ANC is tipped to win with Mr Zuma as its presidential candidate.The development comes barely two weeks before general elections, which the ANC is tipped to win with Mr Zuma as its presidential candidate.
'Guilty forever''Guilty forever'
The ANC boss said in a news conference, broadcast on national television on Tuesday: "There never was a case against me. Busloads of his supporters gathered outside Durban High Court earlier as the charges were formally thrown out.
Afterwards the ANC boss said in a news conference, broadcast on national television on Tuesday: "There never was a case against me.
Thanks for believing in my innocence Jacob Zuma Victory for Zuma's hard-core fans Joy and fury at Zuma charges move Thanks for believing in my innocence Jacob Zuma Victory for Zuma's hard-core fans Joy and fury at Zuma charges move
"My conscience is clear, I have not committed any crime against the people of South Africa. There was a clear agenda so that I should remain guilty forever."My conscience is clear, I have not committed any crime against the people of South Africa. There was a clear agenda so that I should remain guilty forever.
"Thanks for believing in my innocence and in my assertion that I was the victim of a systematic abuse of power.""Thanks for believing in my innocence and in my assertion that I was the victim of a systematic abuse of power."
Busloads of his supporters gathered outside Durban High Court earlier as the charges were formally thrown out. The BBC's Alexis Akwagyiram in Durban says Mr Zuma went on to address more than 1,000 of his supporters for an hour in Zulu, singing his trademark apartheid-era song Umshini wami (Bring me my machine gun) two or three times.
People were hanging out of trees to catch sight of him during his speech, he says.
Views from Polokwane on dropping Jacob Zuma's graft caseIn pictures
On Monday, the NPA said the timing of the decision to charge Mr Zuma in 2007 had been manipulated.On Monday, the NPA said the timing of the decision to charge Mr Zuma in 2007 had been manipulated.
Chief prosecutor Mokotedi Mpshe said wire-tapped phone conversations showed Leonard McCarthy - former head of the now-disbanded Scorpions investigative unit - had abused the legal system.Chief prosecutor Mokotedi Mpshe said wire-tapped phone conversations showed Leonard McCarthy - former head of the now-disbanded Scorpions investigative unit - had abused the legal system.
But the main opposition Democratic Alliance party filed an application for a judicial review of the NPA's decision at the High Court in Pretoria on Tuesday morning. It will be heard after the 22 April election. Critics say the charges against Mr Zuma have been dropped on a technicality and so suspicion will continue to linger as he has not cleared his name in court.
href="/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/africa_views_on_dropping_zuma_charges/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/africa_views_on_dropping_zuma_charges/html/1.stm', '1239028494', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=500,height=400,left=312,top=100'); return false;">Views from Polokwane on dropping Jacob Zuma's graft case href="/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/africa_views_on_dropping_zuma_charges/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/africa_views_on_dropping_zuma_charges/html/1.stm', '1239028494', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=500,height=400,left=312,top=100'); return false;" >In pictures The main opposition Democratic Alliance party filed an application for a judicial review of the NPA's decision at the High Court in Pretoria on Tuesday morning. It will be heard after the 22 April election.
Its leader, Helen Zille, said the chief prosecutor had buckled under political pressure.Its leader, Helen Zille, said the chief prosecutor had buckled under political pressure.
"We believe before the election every South African is entitled to know whether the candidate that they are going to vote for is going to have his day in court or whether he is going to get away scot-free," she said outside the court, reported Sapa news agency."We believe before the election every South African is entitled to know whether the candidate that they are going to vote for is going to have his day in court or whether he is going to get away scot-free," she said outside the court, reported Sapa news agency.
"The public deserves to know who they're getting as a president.""The public deserves to know who they're getting as a president."
The BBC's Mpho Lakaje in Johannesburg says given Mr Zuma's legal victories in recent years it will take something special for Ms Zille to win against the ANC boss.
'Biggest comeback''Biggest comeback'
Critics say the charges against Mr Zuma have been dropped on a technicality and so suspicion will continue to linger as he has not cleared his name in court. The BBC's Mpho Lakaje in Johannesburg says given Mr Zuma's legal victories in recent years it will take something special for Ms Zille to win against the ANC boss.
ZUMA TIMELINE June 2005: Sacked as deputy presidentOctober 2005: Charged with corruption December 2005: Charged with rapeApril 2006: Acquitted of rape chargesSeptember 2006: Corruption case collapses December 2007: Elected ANC president; then re-charged September 2008: Judge rules corruption case cannot proceedJanuary 2009:Prosecutors win appeal6 April 2009: Prosecutors drop case citing phone-tap evidence22 April 2009: Presidential election; Mr Zuma tipped to win Timeline: Zuma's legal problems S Africa's controversial arms deal BBC News Africa on Twitter ZUMA TIMELINE June 2005: Sacked as deputy presidentOctober 2005: Charged with corruption December 2005: Charged with rapeApril 2006: Acquitted of rape chargesSeptember 2006: Corruption case collapses December 2007: Elected ANC president; then re-charged September 2008: Judge rules corruption case cannot proceedJanuary 2009:Prosecutors win appeal6 April 2009: Prosecutors drop case citing phone-tap evidence22 April 2009: Presidential election; Mr Zuma tipped to win Timeline: Zuma's legal problems S Africa's controversial arms deal BBC News Africa on Twitter
The 66-year-old was first charged four years ago over allegations of graft, racketeering and money-laundering linked to a multibillion dollar arms deal in 1999.The 66-year-old was first charged four years ago over allegations of graft, racketeering and money-laundering linked to a multibillion dollar arms deal in 1999.
The case was dropped the following year, but he was recharged 10 days after he defeated former South African President Thabo Mbeki in elections to be the ANC's leader in December 2007.The case was dropped the following year, but he was recharged 10 days after he defeated former South African President Thabo Mbeki in elections to be the ANC's leader in December 2007.
The chief prosecutor said on Monday he had no evidence that charges had been manipulated at the behest of Mr Mbeki.The chief prosecutor said on Monday he had no evidence that charges had been manipulated at the behest of Mr Mbeki.
Support for Mr Zuma was not even affected by rape charges in a separate case in 2006, which ended in his acquittal.Support for Mr Zuma was not even affected by rape charges in a separate case in 2006, which ended in his acquittal.
In that trial, he outraged Aids activists by testifying that he had unprotected, consensual sex with the HIV-positive woman and then took a shower in the belief that it would protect him from the virus.In that trial, he outraged Aids activists by testifying that he had unprotected, consensual sex with the HIV-positive woman and then took a shower in the belief that it would protect him from the virus.
Our correspondent says Mr Zuma's story has been dubbed the biggest comeback in the history of the African continent.Our correspondent says Mr Zuma's story has been dubbed the biggest comeback in the history of the African continent.
Questions now remain on what will happen to those who conspired to frustrate his political ambitions, he adds.Questions now remain on what will happen to those who conspired to frustrate his political ambitions, he adds.
For more, follow our South Africa coverage on Twitter For more, follow our South Africa coverage on Twitter