South Africa's ruling party met today to decide whether President Thabo Mbeki should be removed from office - a move that could rattle investors in Africa's largest economy.
Mr Mbeki is popular among investors who praise his pro-business policies. But he is on thin ice with powerful trade unions and other supporters of ANC leader Jacob Zuma, who accuse Mr Mbeki of trying to undermine the man who replaced him as party boss.
Fired as Mr Mbeki's deputy president in 2005 after he was linked to alleged wrongdoing in an arms deal, Mr Zuma defeated his former boss in a bitter leadership contest late last year and is seen as frontrunner to succeed him as head of state next year.
Mr Mbeki is barred by the constitution from a third term as state president.
The move to oust him picked up speed after a judge last week threw out corruption charges against Mr Zuma and said there was high-level meddling in the case. Mr Zuma's camp have branded the prosecution a political witchhunt by Mr Mbeki and his aides.
Mr Mbeki, who has consistently denied he hatched a political conspiracy against Zuma, lashed out at his critics today as the ANC's national executive committee met to discuss his fate. The powerful policy-making body is dominated by Zuma allies.
"It impoverishes our society that some resort to the tactic of advancing allegations with no fact to support these," Mbeki said in a statement issued by his office. He said he was not involved in prosecutors' decision to appeal the Zuma ruling.
Mr Zuma has said he wants Mr Mbeki to serve out the remaining months of his term, but he faces a growing chorus within the African National Congress to force Mbeki to resign or push him out in a non-confidence vote in the ANC-dominated parliament.
Reuters