Jackie Selebi quits interpol job!

Scandal-hit Interpol chief quits

Mr Selebi denies the allegations of corruption
The president of the international police agency, Interpol, has resigned, Interpol has said.
Jackie Selebi's resignation follows his suspension on Saturday as South Africa's national police commissioner.

South African prosecutors said on Friday that Mr Selebi would be charged with corruption, but did not say when.

He is alleged to have received $170,000 (£90,000) from a convicted criminal. Mr Selebi denies allegations of corruption or defeating the ends of justice.

Work praised

In his resignation letter, Mr Selebi said he was stepping down "in the best interests of Interpol and out of respect for the global law enforcement community" a statement said.

Ronald K Noble, the secretary general of the France-based global police agency, praised Mr Selebi's work with the organisation and said the corruption allegations against him had "nothing to do with his position as president of Interpol".

But Mr Noble, said "corruption is one of the most serious offences that any police official can be accused of".

South Africa's chief prosecutor alleges that Mr Selebi had a "generally corrupt relationship" with businessman Glen Agliotti - a convicted drug smuggler who is accused of involvement in the 2005 murder of mining magnate Brett Kebble.

Mr Selebi is said to be close to South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki, who has resisted calls for his police commissioner to be fired.

He said he would not take any action until evidence of Mr Selebi's wrongdoing was brought before him. But on Saturday he put Mr Selebi on an extended leave of absence.

Mr Selebi was elected president of Interpol for a four-year term in 2004.

It is not clear when prosecutors will charge him.

In BBC