By DPA,
Johannesburg : South Africa’s governing African National Congress (ANC) called on President Thabo Mbeki Saturday to resign over evidence of political interference in a case against ANC leader Jacob Zuma.
The ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe told reporters the party’s national executive committee (NEC) had “decided to recall the president of the republic before his term of office expires”.
Mbeki has yet to indicate whether he is ready to accede to their demand.
The NEC made the announcement after several hours of talks behind closed door on the president’s fate.
Mantashe said Mbeki had “welcomed the news and agreed that he is going to participate in the process and the formalities” which would move to parliament.
He also stressed that Mbeki would remain president until a new leader was found.
Zuma is the ANC’s candidate to lead the party into elections next year.
The move against Mbeki comes after a high court judge last week, in dismissing corruption charges against Zuma, said there was evidence of political interference in the investigation and implied Mbeki had a hand.
Zuma and Mbeki are arch-foes. Zuma ousted Mbeki as ANC leader in December, 2007.