DEMAND OF WITHDRAWAL OF CHARGES!

S African unions want Zuma back.

Mr Zuma denies any wrong doing. South Africa's main trade union group has called on the president to drop corruption charges against his former deputy, Jacob Zuma, and reinstate him.
Cosatu General Secretary Zwelinzima Vavi said Mr Zuma would not get a fair trial in South Africa. Mr Zuma was sacked in June after his financial advisor was found guilty of corruption in deals linked to him.
Cosatu is officially part of South Africa's ruling alliance but has been increasingly unhappy with the ANC. Before the corruption scandal, Mr Zuma was seen as favourite to succeed President Thabo Mbeki and correspondents say he remains one of South Africa's most popular politicians.
BBC Southern Africa correspondent Barnaby Phillips says many people in Cosatu see Mr Zuma as a champion of the poor and the unemployed, whose lives have not improved under Mr Mbeki, despite South Africa's economic growth.
Cosatu says it will hold mass demonstrations outside the court if Mr Zuma is ever brought to trial. Shaik's trial prompted a new inquiry into Mr Zuma's conduct It has established a trust fund to help pay for his defence. "It is clear that he would not get a fair trial. In this context, Cosatu will start a petition campaign to call on the president to ensure the withdrawal of charges," Mr Vavi said. Correspondents say the decision is the latest setback to Mr Mbeki, who is fighting a grassroots revolt over the removal of Mr Zuma.
Last week, Mr Zuma's replacement as deputy President, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, was shouted down by Mr Zuma's supporters, when she addressed a rally of 10,000 African National Congress members, and had to leave the platform. Two weeks after being sacked, Mr Zuma appeared in court on corruption charges in relation to a multi-billion dollar deal with a French arms manufacturer.
Mr Zuma has said he is innocent and welcomed his chance to clear his name. His advisor Schabir Shaik was convicted of fraud and corruption by the judge and sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Mr Zuma says he was effectively tried by the media during Mr Shaik's trial.