New South African Party(cope) Launched

A new political party expected to pose the first serious opposition to the ruling African National Congress is formally launching in South Africa.

The Congress of the People, or Cope, is made up largely of defectors from the ANC, which has been in power continuously for 14 years.

On Tuesday it named ex-Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota as its president.

Cope emerged after Thabo Mbeki left the presidency in September amid a power struggle with ANC leader Jacob Zuma.

Many supporters of the new party were unhappy at the way in which Mr Mbeki was forced to step down.

The BBC's Peter Biles reports from Bloemfontein, where the new party is being launched, that delegates have been locked in feverish political debates.

They see the launch as a key moment that signals the growth and development of South Africa's young democracy, he says.

Mr Zuma is also in Bloemfontein on Tuesday for a party rally widely seen as an attempt to divert attention from the launch of Cope.