POLOKWANE(South Africa): South Africa's top prosecutor today said he had enough evidence to bring corruption charges against Jacob Zuma, the man in line to be the country's next president. Zuma responded: "If I have a case to answer, then take me to court."

Mokotedi Mpshe told The Associated Press that prosecutors would announce in the new year the next step in their investigation into the allegations against Zuma, who was elected leader of the African National Congress on Tuesday.
 
"The type of evidence we have so far can be taken to court," said Mpshe, who is investigating allegations that in the 1990s Zuma accepted 4 million rand (hundreds of thousands of dollars) in bribes from the French arms company Thint to use his influence within the ANC and government stop investigations into whethermultibillion-dollar arms contracts with the government had been secured through bribes.

At a news conference later, Zuma complained that he was being tried in the media. "There was an investigation which was conducted publicly against me, I was threatened to be charged in public, there were things said about me by those investigating," he said. "My problem was, Why are these things being said in public? If I have a case to answer, then take me to court."

Zuma has consistently denied the allegations and said he is being pursued by prosecutors for political reasons.

Source : PTI