Mbeki loses appeal on Zuma ruling

Thabo Mbeki had wanted to clear his name after his dismissal

South Africa's ex-President Thabo Mbeki has lost an attempt to quash a ruling saying he meddled in the prosecution of governing ANC party leader, Jacob Zuma.

The Constitutional Court rejected his urgent appeal to scrap the judgement, which Mr Mbeki had called "vexatious, scandalous and prejudicial".

The ANC controversially forced Mr Mbeki from his position as president shortly after the ruling.

Mr Mbeki lost the ANC leadership to his rival Mr Zuma last year.

Mr Zuma's corruption trial was dismissed by Judge Chris Nicholson in September on a technicality.

He said it appeared that Mr Mbeki had colluded with prosecutors against Mr Zuma as part of the "titanic power struggle" within the African National Congress.

Last month, prosecutors were given leave to appeal the trial's dismissal.

Mr Zuma, favourite to become president after general elections next year, has denied charges of graft, money-laundering and racketeering.