SOUTH AFRICA:Pressure is mounting on South African president Thabo Mbeki to explain why he suspended the country's chief prosecutor amid claims of "unconstitutional" political interference in the legal system.
Reports say Mr Mbeki removed Vusi Pikoli, head of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), from his post just over a week ago because the official was on the brink of issuing an arrest warrant against South Africa's controversial national police chief, Jackie Selebi.
There have been further allegations that the president was unhappy with the pace of the NPA's investigation into alleged corruption committed by Jacob Zuma, who is running against Mr Mbeki for the presidency of the ruling African National Congress (ANC).
The opposition Democratic Alliance said Mr Mbeki should urgently appear before parliament to explain himself and in the process, stave off a possible constitutional crisis.
The party's parliamentary leader, Sandra Botha, said the law precluded both the president and ministers from interfering with the NPA's decisions on whom it could and could not prosecute.
Suspicions around the case have been fuelled by the presidency's reluctance to fully explain its actions. Initially, the government said there had been an irretrievable breakdown in Mr Pikoli's relationship with the minister for justice but it later cited "structural" reasons for the suspension.
Government spokesman Themba Maseko yesterday denied that Mr Pikoli's suspension was "meant to protect" Mr Selebi, but he was unable to confirm or deny that a warrant had been issued for the arrest of the controversial police chief.
Mr Mbeki has hitched his reputation to Mr Selebi.
Mr Maseko added that, as far as he knew, the suspension was unrelated to the NPA's investigation of Mr Zuma but he was unable to state categorically that this was the case.
Briefing journalists, Mr Maseko also revealed that the National Prosecuting Authority, under its new director, would be reviewing all cases before it.
Analysts said this had serious legal implications - were Mr Zuma to be charged with corruption ahead of December's ANC leadership contest, it could fuel allegations that Mr Zuma was subject to a Mbeki-led witch-hunt.
Mr Mbeki has appointed veteran ANC politician Frene Ginwala to head an inquiry into whether Mr Pikoli was a fit and proper person to hold office.
The president, however, continues to resist calls to investigate Mr Selebi's alleged links to figures from the criminal underworld.
Mr Selebi, who is current president of the international policing agency Interpol, has denied any involvement in criminal activity, despite admitting to be a friend of Glenn Agliotti, an alleged drugs boss currently facing murder charges.