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September 21, 2008

South African President to Address Nation After Agreeing to Resign
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Thabo Mbeki, who is accused of pushing corruption charges against his
political rival Jacob Zuma, is expected to convene an emergency meeting
of his Cabinet Sunday evening 
South African President Thabo Mbeki (file photo)South African President
Thabo Mbeki is to address the nation Sunday after agreeing to resign
from office under pressure from his party. Officials say Mr. Mbeki also
is expected to convene an emergency meeting of his Cabinet Sunday
evening. The ruling African National Congress party recalled the
president on Saturday for his alleged interference in the corruption
trial of party leader Jacob Zuma. Party leaders accuse Mr. Mbeki of
pushing the corruption charges against his political rival. Last week, a
judge dismissed the charges against Zuma and suggested the case was
politically motivated. Mr. Mbeki's office has denied the president's
involvement in the case. Parliament must now pick an interim president
ahead of April's elections. Officials say President Mbeki has decided
not to attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York this week.
Mr. Mbeki and Zuma have been bitter rivals since the president fired
Zuma as his deputy president in a corruption scandal in 2005. Zuma
toppled Mr. Mbeki from the ruling party's leadership last year and is
widely expected to win presidential elections in April. The head of
South Africa's opposition party, Helen Zille of the Democratic Alliance,
says the decision to recall Mr. Mbeki was motivated by revenge to settle
political scores. Mr. Mbeki became president in 1999, taking over from
Nelson Mandela. Some information for this report was provided by AP.


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