ZUMA GOES ON TRIAL FOR CORRUPTION!

Zuma's supporters held an all-night vigil in Pietermaritzburg. The corruption trial of former South African Deputy President Jacob Zuma has begun in the Pietermaritzburg High Court in the east of the country. Mr Zuma and his co-accused, French arms firm Thint, face charges in connection with a bribe allegedly paid to Mr Zuma. Defence lawyers have called for the case to be thrown out of court.

Hundreds of Mr Zuma's supporters, who stood by him during a separate rape trial in which he was acquitted in May, held an overnight vigil at the court. The case could determine the political future of a man who remains one of South Africa's most popular politicians, and who is believed still to harbour ambitions to the presidency. As proceedings began, the prosecution asked for postponement to allow more time for investigation. "The state needs until the middle of October to finalise the indictment," prosecutor Wim Trengove said. "There are some changes envisioned and it is going to be a mammoth task to undertake."

Zuma denies the charges of corruption. Mr Zuma's defence lawyers have argued that delays in the trial are infringing on Mr Zuma's right to a fair trial, and are seeking to have the case dropped. Mr Zuma sat in the dock wearing a dark suit, and smiled and put his hands together in greeting to his supporters, reports the South African Press Association. Banners carried by his supporters outside the court included the slogan "fight conspiracy and demand justice". Some of his supporters believe that the charges against Mr Zuma are the result of a political vendetta.

Mr Zuma was sacked from the government more than a year ago when his financial adviser Schabir Shaik was found guilty of corruption in a case that arose from a government arms procurement deal in the 1990s. The judge said there had been a generally corrupt relationship between Mr Shaik and Mr Zuma, and evidence led in Mr Shaik's trial prompted the National Prosecuting Authority to start investigating charges against Mr Zuma. Although the investigation prompted President Thabo Mbeki to relieve Mr Zuma of his duties as deputy president, he kept his position of deputy leader of the ANC. He first appeared in connection with the corruption allegations in the Durban magistrate's court in October, and prosecutors have spent the intervening period collecting and examining evidence.

Late last year, Mr Zuma was accused of rape by the daughter of a family friend, giving rise to a separate trial, in which he was acquitted.

BBC NEWS REPORT