South Africa's national police commissioner, who faces charges of corruption and trying to protect a convicted drug smuggler, is to stand down temporarily but will not be sacked.
President Thabo Mbeki said Saturday that Jackie Selebi, who also holds the largely ceremonial post of Interpol president, had been given «extended
leave» with immediate effect.
The National Prosecuting Authority said Friday it would charge Selebi with corruption and defeating the administration of justice because of his «generally corrupt relationship» with Glen Agliotti, who was last year convicted of drug smuggling and stands accused of murder. It said charges would be filed imminently.
Mbeki sought to reassure a nervous public that the government would continue its fight against crime in a country which has more than 50 murders a day.
«Work will go on as normal. The police and all of its ranks will continue with its work as normal,» he told a press conference.
But the news came as a further blow to South Africa's international image. ANC President Jacob Zuma, who hopes to become national president in 2009, is due to go on trial in August on corruption, fraud, money laundering and racketeering charges.
Selebi tried unsuccessfully to block the indictment against him in Pretoria's High Court on Friday. The judge dismissed it, saying that the administration of justice would be brought into disrepute if Selebi were not prosecuted.
Mbeki said that Timothy Charles Williams, deputy national commissioner for crime intelligence and crime detection, would be acting police chief. He said it was up to Interpol, the world's largest police organization, to decide on Selebi's future. He was due to stand down later this year after his four-year term in office.
Interpol's General Secretariat said it was «carefully monitoring» the situation, and the matter involving Selebi would be discussed at its executive committee meeting in February.
«While it would be inappropriate for Interpol to comment on the ongoing investigation in South Africa, it should be stated that President Selebi has significantly helped the organization and its member countries to enhance security and police co-operation worldwide,» it said in a statement on its web site.
Mbeki's press conference came after a tumultuous week. On Tuesday, armed police arrested Johannesburg's top prosecutor, Gerrie Nel, who led the investigation of Selebi, and hauled him away in handcuffs. Nel is due in court Monday on charges of defeating the ends of justice _ charges that the prosecuting authority says are without foundation.
The turf war between the police and prosecutors also comes at a time when the prosecuting authority _ the equivalent of America's FBI _ is under criticism for its decision to press charges against Zuma.
The ANC congress that elected Zuma last month resolved to disband the prosecuting authority's elite anti-crime unit called the Scorpions _ a decision that risks further weakening the fight against crime.

Police statistics released in December said that there were 8,925 murders and 23,507 reported rapes between April and September last year nationwide _ both down slightly from the previous year. But other crimes like robbery and cash in transit heists have soared.
Prosecutors allege Agliotti gave Selebi cash handouts «as and when he requested,» bought clothes for him and his family and gave him 30,000 rands (US$4,400; ¤3,000) to pay for a dinner in Paris when he was elected head of Interpol. The payments totaled at least 1.2 million rands (US$175,000; ¤118,300) between 2000 and 2005, the prosecuting authority said.
The prosecuting authority also accused Selebi of turning a blind eye to Agliotti's involvement in transporting large quantities of illegal drugs. The prosecutors said Selebi also informed Agliotti that British intelligence authorities were investigating him.
Agliotti reached a plea bargain with prosecutors last year whereby he pleaded guilty to smuggling drugs into the country and received a suspended 10-year prison sentence and a fine. In return, he agreed to testify against drug gangs. There have been reports that he might be the star witness in a trial against Selebi, though prosecutors have not confirmed this.
Mbeki summarily suspended chief prosecutor Vusi Pikoli last September after he issued a warrant for the Selebi's arrest. Acting prosecuting chief Mokotedi Mpshe withdrew the warrant and ordered an independent investigation of the case against Selebi. That probe was conducted by outside legal experts who recommended Selebi be charged.