The ruling African National Congress in South Africa has named its deputy president Kgalema Motlanthe as head of state after Thabo Mbeki bowed to pressure and announced his resignation.
Mr Motlanthe is to serve as head of state until elections are held in seven months.
The governing African National Congress requested Mr Mbeki stand down because of claims he was involved in interfering with the judiciary.
Last week a judge ruled he may have been encouraging corruption charges to be brought against his rival, ANC president Jacob Zuma.
