South Africa's governing African National Congress (ANC) has called on President Thabo Mbeki to resign amid claims he conspired against its chief.
It comes days after a judge suggested the president had interfered in a case against party rival, Jacob Zuma. The ANC's Secretary General Gwede Mantashe told reporters Mr Mbeki had "welcomed the news", but it is not clear if he has agreed to step down. Mr Zuma is expected to succeed Mr Mbeki in scheduled elections next year.
The decision was taken at a meeting of the ANC's National Executive Committee (NEC). The committee, which is made up of mainly Mr Zuma's supporters, cannot force Mr Mbeki, who denies the allegations, to go. Mr Zuma toppled his rival as ANC leader in bitterly contested elections last year, while Mr Mbeki fired him as deputy president in 2005.
Mr Mantashe said the NEC had "decided to recall the president of the republic before his term of office expires". He said Mr Mbeki "did not display shock" at the decision. "He welcomed the news and agreed that he is going to participate in the process and the formalities," Mr Mantashe said.
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. |