ANC infighting over Zuma indictment

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, Jan. 2 (UPI) -- Conflicts between members of the African National Congress escalated as corruption charges mount against newly elected South African President Jacob Zuma.

The acting National Director of Public Prosecutions Mokotedi Mpshe said Zuma must face trial as several ANC blocs questioned whether South African President Thabo Mbeki was behind the allegations, The (Johannesburg) Citizen said Wednesday.

Patrick Craven with the Congress of South African Trade Unions and Sipho Seepe, a political analyst with Vista University, said revenge motivated the announcement of charges in the media.

"It seems that there is political conspiracy against Zuma. State organs are being by some political forces," Craven told the newspaper.

The National Prosecuting Authority announced Tuesday a list of 218 witnesses involved in the indictment against Zuma, who faces 12 charges of fraud, two of corruption and racketeering and one charge for money laundering.