South Africa's ruling party on Saturday called on the country's president, Thabo Mbeki, to resign from office -- several months ahead of next year's elections, reported CNN.
Mbeki has been South African president since 1999.
Mbeki has been South African president since 1999.
Gwede Mantashe, secretary-general of the African National Congress (ANC) made the announcement at a news conference in Johannesburg.
Mantashe said Mbeki, who succeeded Nelson Mandela in 1999, had agreed to resign, The Associated Press reported.
"He did not display shock ... He welcomed the news and agreed that he is going to participate in the process and the formalities," Mantashe said.
Mantashe added that the ANC had made the decision "for the citizens of South Africa, so there could be stability within the country" and so the ANC movement could remain "stable and unified."
If Mbeki had refused to resign, he could have been ousted by a no-confidence vote in parliament, Mantashe said.
Mbeki was ousted as leader of the ANC last December by Jacob Zuma, a 66-year-old former guerrilla leader who commands strong support among South Africa's poor. He had been due to step down next year after two terms of office.
But Mbeki had been under pressure amid allegations that he had instigated politically motivated corruption charges against Zuma, AP said. Those charges were thrown out by a judge last week, paving the way for Zuma to compete in presidential elections.
The development comes in the same week that Mbeki was credited with brokering a power-sharing deal in neighboring Zimbabwe between President Robert Mugabe and rival Morgan Tsvangirai.
Mantashe said Mbeki would remain in office until an interim president was appointed and would continue to act as a mediator in Zimbabwe, AP said.