South African President Thabo Mbeki (C) attends a special cabinet meeting in Pretoria on September 21, 2008 with Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka (L) and ruling African National Congress (ANC) deputy president Kgalema Motlanthe (R) a day after his party called for him to step down as president. Mbeki prepared to address the nation on September 21. Mbeki said on September 20 he would step down "as soon as all constitutional requirements have been fulfilled" after calls by the African National Congress national executive committee for him to go. [Xinhua] |