South Africa's African National Congress (ANC) President Jacob Zuma has urged his supporters, angered by corruption charges brought against him, to avoid the kind of violence that has exploded in Kenya.
"We don't want to have the kind of thing we are seeing in Kenya," The Sunday Independentquoted him as saying on Friday night after meeting with senior ANC officials.
Zuma's spokeswoman was not immediately available for comment on the report.
Kenya has been swept by tribal clashes since a December 27th election the opposition says was rigged. At least 300 people have died, some in battles between police and protesters, others in ethnic violence.
"On no account should there be any violence or burning of property, or anything like that, because of these charges against me," the newspaper quoted Zuma as saying.
"I know why people are so angry on my behalf. But there are other ways, legal ways, with which to deal with such matters."
Zuma, elected president of the ruling ANC last month after beating President Thabo Mbeki, faces charges of corruption, fraud, money laundering and racketeering, and will stand trial in August.
Prosecuting him could deepen divisions within the ANC and derail his hopes of succeeding Mbeki, who must step down in 2009.