New leader of the governing ANC party in South Africa, Jacob Zuma, has been charged with corruption.
Prosecutors have served papers ordering him to stand trial on counts of corruption, fraud, money laundering and racketeering.
Mr Zuma stands accused of taking a bribe from a French arms company during his time as vice president.
The documents from the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) were not unexpected.
The NPA's specialist anti-corruption unit, known as the Scorpions, has been investigating allegations of corruption for years, and last month they won an appeal court battle to get access to critical documents for their inquiries.
Mr Zuma and his supporters have always denied any wrongdoing, and they have insisted the allegations of corruption are all part of a grand conspiracy to destroy his political career.
Mr Zuma's lawyer Michael Hulley says the trial is expected to start in August next year and that some of the allegations are old.
"Some of the actual charges which have been signed in a previous indictment have been repeated, and others have been added," he said.
"Broadly speaking, they currently range from racketeering, to money laundering, to corruption, as well as fraud."
-BBC/ABC
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/12/29/2128629.htm?section=world
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