Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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September 20, 2008

South African President Mbeki Agrees to Resign
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1E4AEAF:A6F02AD83191E160B1B4E2CF57D62F99C030207A0BD70133&
 
Ruling African National Congress party had issued call for him to do so 
The African National Congress has announced it is recalling South
African President Thabo Mbeki - in effect forcing him to leave office.
VOA's Delia Robertson reports from our bureau in Johannesburg, a
statement from the presidency says that Mr. Mbeki will "step down after
all constitutional requirements have been met."South African President
Thabo Mbeke (file photo)The announcement came from ANC Secretary-General
Gwede Mantashe."After long and difficult discussion the ANC decided to
recall the president of the republic before his term of office expires
and our decision has been communicated to him," he said. Mantashe said
Mr. Mbeki has agreed to his party's request to step down. He added Mr.
Mbeki was informed of the decision of the National Executive Committee,
the party's highest decision-making body and received the news
"normally."The party's decision follows a court decision late last week
declaring that the decision to prosecute ANC president Jacob Zuma was
invalid!
  because of procedural irregularities. The judge in that case also said
there may have been political meddling in his prosecution. He cited
several meetings between the National Director of Public Prosecutions
and a former justice minister. Legally the justice minister has
oversight over the National Prosecutions Authority and its head.
President of S. Africa's ruling party African National Congress, Jacob
Zuma The ANC says the transition will be managed smoothly and indirectly
suggested that the ANC will not seek to proceed in a way that will
require an early election. However Mantashe offered no clarity on who
will succeed Mr. Mbeki. Normally the deputy president will act as
president and within thirty days parliament must convene to elect a
permanent replacement from their ranks. However, Deputy President
Pumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka has indicated she will resign out of loyalty to
Mr. Mbeki. And there has been widespread speculation that as many as
half of the members of cabinet will do the same. Jacob Zuma is currently
not eligible because he
 is not a member of parliament but the party could ask for someone to
resign and replace that individual with Zuma. 


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