South Africa leader accused of obstruction

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, Oct. 5 (UPI) -- South Africa's president Friday was accused of quashing the arrest of the country's embattled national police commissioner.

"The president's interventions amount to a clear obstruction of the course of justice," said Sandra Botha, the parliamentary leader of the Democratic Alliance.

Critics accuse President Thabo Mbeki of intervening to block the prosecution of South Africa's police chief and head of Interpol, Jackie Selebi, who is alleged to have links to organized crime, Britain's Guardian reported Friday.

Mbeki has said he does not believe there is a case against Selebi but his office denies he intervened in the investigation, the Guardian reported.

The Mail and Guardian, a Johannesburg newspaper, reported Thursday Mbeki intervened to quash warrants for Selebi's arrest on corruption and racketeering charges.