Kremlin Joins Russians Keeping An Eye On Prices The Kremlin is keenly sensitive to rising food costs as the country begins to succumb to a global trend that has sparked riots in poorer countries.... Read Full Article McCanns Consider Film About Missing Madeleine The parents of Madeleine McCann are considering giving the go-ahead to a film about their missing daughter following an approach by a major entertainment firm.... Read Full Article France And Germany Agree Compromise To End Years Of Confusion At Top Of EADS EADS, the European defence and space giant, has finally adopted a conventional corporate structure, but it took a summit between the leaders of France and Germany yesterday to get an agreement.... Read Full Article Vital Signs: Adolescence: Study Links Migraines And Lower Family Income A nationwide survey has found that migraine headaches are more common in low-income families when there is no family history of such headaches.... Read Full Article Music Review: A Look At Two Rival Ideas About How To Compose The Manhattan Sinfonietta, a new-music ensemble led by Jeffrey Milarsky , took over Merkin Concert Hall last weekend for two concerts that explored competing notions of contemporary musical language.... Read Full Article |
South African Candidate ConfirmedFiled at 6:26 a.m. ET JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (AP) The governing African National Congress said Tuesday that party president Jacob Zuma would be its candidate for national elections in 2009 despite his pending trial on charges of corruption, money laundering, fraud and racketeering. The decision following a meeting of the partys decision-making national executive committee sets the scene for a showdown between the governing party and prosecutors and risks political uncertainty in Africas economic powerhouse. Zumas allies claim he is the victim of a political vendetta. The ANC executive committee has agreed to look into how to support Zuma and draw up a detailed report on the allegedly corrupt arms deal at the heart of the case against Zuma, which could shift attention from Zuma to other top leaders accused of corruption. Tuesday, ANC treasurer Mathews Phosa accused prosecutors of Hollywood-style operations, Zuma, a 65-year-old former guerrilla leader is due to go on trial in August. Corruption charges against him were dropped on a technicality in 2006, but prosecutors now say they have additional evidence. Zuma allegedly accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes from the French company Thint to stop investigations into multibillion-dollar arms deal contracts with the government. The contracts were suspected of being secured through bribes, and Thint presumably hoped Zuma would use his influence within the government and the ANC to stop legal probes. President Thabo Mbeki fired Zuma as the countrys deputy president in 2005, after Zumas financial adviser was convicted of trying to elicit bribes from Thint. The meeting of the 86-member national executive committee Monday was the first since Zuma was elected in December. Mbeki did not attend the meeting although sent his apologies in what was widely interpreted as a snub to the executive, which is now controlled by Zuma allies. Mbeki stands down as national president in 2009 and it prevented by the constitution from seeking a third term. He had challenged Zuma for the ANC presidency, apparently hoping that by remaining ANC president he would be able to have influence over his successor as national president. Given the huge majority enjoyed by the ANC, it is virtually certain that Zuma will become South African president in 2009 if he runs. Tag CloudExternal InformationAdditional InformationOne-minute solution to finding a nanny...Radio 1 DJ who was set to play Dubai arrested at airport over drugs and pornogra... Heaney laments loss of Ireland’s ancient spirit to onward march of the Cel... No. 3 U.S. Diplomat, Lead Negotiator on Iran, Retires... Where Am I?News Main Page - Business - South African Candidate Confirmed |
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