Tutu: Mbeki recall 'deeply disturbing'

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, Sept. 23 (UPI) -- Archbishop Desmond Tutu says the recalling of South African President Thabo Mbeki is a "deeply disturbing" development for South Africa.

Tutu said Mbeki's recall by the African National Congress with six months left in his presidential term showed the country should consider changing the constitution to allow for direct presidential elections, Business Day, Johannesburg, reported Monday.

Tutu told the newspaper South Africa risks becoming a banana republic, saying he was "deeply disturbed" by recent events and that the "so-called" recalling of Mbeki fitted the pattern of settling old scores and "throwing about of weight that has happened post-Polokwane," referring to last year's ANC conference in which Jacob Zuma defeated Mbeki in a rancorous election for party leader.

Ten South African Cabinet ministers announced Tuesday they were resigning in sympathy with Mbeki's recall, the BBC reported. Among them was Finance Minster Trevor Manuel, considered a key architect of South Africa's financial stability.