South African President Thabo Mbeki, who also chairs the ruling African National Congress (ANC), on Monday ruled out the possibility of the party dealing with the issue of succession ahead of the 2007 congress.

In an interview with local television SABC, Mbeki said he is of the view that the party should not deal with the matter before then.

Asked if he was not ready for the party to groom someone for the presidency, Mbeki said the party did not work in that fashion.

Mbeki said that when the time came - people would choose someone they trust.

He said that some of the behavior of the party's membership around the sacking of Jacob Zuma, the former deputy president, is alien to the organization.

The ruling ANC has emerged from its National General Council as a united organization. Kgalema Motlanthe, the ANC secretary general, said this weekend's meeting allowed the ANC leadership to inform its members on a number of issues that have been deemed controversial.

Motlanthe dismissed suggestions of divisions within party ranks, saying they are more united than ever before.

Source: Xinhua