Johannesburg  - South Africa's archbishop emeritus Desmond Tutu on Monday said he

Johannesburg  - South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) leader Jacob Zuma on Monday tipped ANC deputy president Kgalema Motlanthe to become acting president after Thabo Mbeki tendered his resignation on Sunday.

"I am convinced, if given that responsibility, he would be equal to the task," Zuma told a press conference in Johannesburg, with Motlanthe at his side.

Speaking publicly for the first time since the ANC pressured Mbeki into resignation at the weekend, Zuma said the party would only name its candidate for caretaker president "at an appropriate moment" in parliament.

If nominated, Motlanthe's ratification by the ANC-dominated National Assembly is seen as a foregone conclusion.

Nairobi/Mogadishu - At least six civilians have died after shells targeting African Union peacekeeping bases in Mogadishu went astray, reports said Monday.

Johannesburg - South African President Thabo Mbeki was due to officially announce his impending resignation later Sunday in an address to the nation, a day after his African National Congress dramatically demanded he step down seven months before the end of his second term.

Mbeki's address will follow a meeting of his cabinet to discuss his recall by the ANC over a court finding of political interference in the prosecution of his arch-foe, ANC leader Jacob Zuma.

The Pietermaritzburg High Court last week, in setting aside corruption and fraud charges against Zuma on a technicality, said the case against Zuma had the "ring of the works of (Czech author Franz) Kafka" about it and implied Mbeki had a hand.

Garware Offshore Services, a leading shipping firm has announced that the company has bagged a contract worth 15 million dollar (about Rs 69.29 crore) for delivering a vessel in South Africa. 

The source close to the company revealed that the proposed three-year contract has been secured for providing its new anchor handling tug cum supply vessel (AHTSV). 

While commenting on the order, Mr. Aditya Garware, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Garware Offshore Services stated, “With the delivery of this vessel the fleet size will touch nine vessels inching us closer to our target of 13-14 vessels by FY 2010.”

The delivery of AHTSV will commence in the last quarter of this fiscal.

Johannesburg- South African President Thabo Mbeki will comply with a request from hi