South Africa?s ruling African National Congress (ANC) yesterday denied a report that some of its senior officials may push for an early general election to try to undermine plans by former party members to form a breakaway group. ANC Secretary-General Gwede Mantashe told a news conference this had not been discussed at a meeting of the party?s executive on Wednesday and dismissed the report as a rumour. Citing an anonymous insider, The Star newspaper said some members of the party?s National Executive Committee may press for an early poll as more regional and provincial executive members are expected to leave the party this week. An election is not due until around April next year. The exe-cutive committee met on Wednesday to discuss a rebellion led by former Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota, who resigned after the ANC forced President Thabo Mbeki to stand down. Mbeki?s ousting was the climax of a power struggle with Jacob Zuma, recently elected leader of the ANC, and has unleashed the country?s worst political crisis since the end of apartheid in 1994. The former premier of South Africa?s richest province, Mbhazima Shilowa also resigned from the ANC and is ready to join a dissident group threatening to form a breakaway group.

The creation of a new party would be the most serious division in the 96-year history of the ANC, which has ruled since the end of apartheid.