Jacob Zuma Bows To Pressure From Party, Resigns in good fate

South Africa's President Jacob Zuma resigned after a protracted stand-off with the ruling African National Congress. The party planned to recall him in a no-confidence vote on Thursday. Zuma resigned, saying the party should not be divided in his name.

In his words during a nationally televised political address Wednesday. "No life should be lost in my name and also the ANC should never be divided in my name," he said "I have therefore come to the decision to resign as President of the republic with immediate effect."

The announcement came after the ANC took the extraordinary step of calling for a no-confidence vote in the leader on Wednesday, a day after it publicly demanded his resignation. Party officials on Tuesday decided to issue a "recall" notice after failing privately to convince Zuma that he should step aside.

After his resignation announcement, Zuma said he disagreed with the decision of his political party and that he has always been a "disciplined member of the ANC."