Boesak's announcement coincides with the launch of the Social Justice Coalition by another UDF talwart, Aids activist Zackie Achmat.

Italy's opposition leader Silvio Berlusconi has dumped his right-wing allies in a bid to form a new centrist force that he hopes can carry him back to power at an early election. In an interview Berlusconi explained his surprise decision to dissolve his "House of Freedoms" alliance with Catholics, separatists and post-fascists.

The newly formed National People's Party (NPP) on Thursday claimed that five former members of the Independent Democrats (ID) had crossed the floor, bringing their Cape Town metro seats with them. However, the ID said two of the five -- Abdulla Omar and Aaron Kallie -- were expelled from the party before the floor-crossing window opened.