New ANC leader Zuma soon to be charged

POLOKWANE, South Africa, Dec. 20 (UPI) -- The newly elected head of South Africa's African National Congress party, Jacob Zuma, faces federal corruption charges, the top prosecutor said Thursday.

In an interview with Radio 702 in Johannesburg, South Africa, Acting National Director of Public Prosecutions Mokotedi Mpshe announced the allegations, two days after Zuma ousted Thabo Mbeki as party leader.

"The investigation, with the evidence we have now, points to a case that can be taken to court," Mpshe said.

The case involves allegations of Zuma's alleged involvement in a multibillion dollar arms deal dating back several years, a Washington Post correspondent reported from Polokwane, where the ANC convention was winding down Thursday.

Zuma has been charged with rape in the past but wasn't convicted. In 2005, Mbeki fired him as deputy president when his financial adviser was arrested in connection with the arms trafficking case.

In addition to the ongoing probe, federal prosecutors have added tax evasion to Zuma's possible indictments, the report said.

If convicted of any of the charges, Zuma would be unable to run for the South African presidency in 2009.