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S. African Ruling Party May Oust President

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The Washington Post

Published: September 20, 2008

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa - South Africa's ruling party began a three-day meeting Friday to discuss whether to force out President Thabo Mbeki, who has faced mounting calls to resign since a court ruling suggested he had pressured prosecutors to charge his political rival with corruption.

Mbeki, South Africa's second president since the end of apartheid, is set to step down next year after 10 years in office. But his influence has waned dramatically since he lost the leadership of the ruling African National Congress in December to Jacob Zuma, who is now on track to become South Africa's next president.

Last week, a judge dismissed corruption charges against Zuma, saying that prosecutors had not followed procedures and that the charges appeared to be part of a politically motivated scheme involving Mbeki. Mbeki has denied the allegation.

Zuma, who faced 16 counts of corruption, fraud, money laundering and racketeering stemming from a multimillion-dollar arms deal, was charged days after winning the ANC presidency. The dismissal of the charges prompted the head of the ANC Youth League and other Zuma supporters to call for Mbeki's ouster. Prosecutors have said they will appeal the ruling.

If the party's top decision-making committee opts to eject Mbeki but he refuses to resign, the ANC could use its parliamentary majority to deem him unfit to serve. The party would then choose a lawmaker to take his place until elections next year - but not Zuma, who is not a member of Parliament.

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