Incumbent Mbeki trails Zuma in vote

JOHANNESBURG - President Thabo Mbeki trailed his rival Jacob Zuma in the bitterly contested race for the presidency of the African National Congress after provincial nominations yesterday.

Mbeki won the nomination of four of the country's nine provinces, behind Zuma's five. Although that does not automatically mean that the ANC's national congress will elect Zuma as its president later this month, it provides the strongest indication to date of the likely outcome.

Mbeki is bidding for a third term as ANC president.

- AP