JOHANNESBURG, July 4 (Xinhuanet) -- South African President Thabo Mbeki has said that the decision of who should succeed him as leader of the African National Congress in 2007 depends on the "sense of comfort" among party members closer to the time.

    Mbeki made the statement in an interview with local television SABC on Sunday night.

    He said that the party would not change the constitution to allow him another term of office as president of the country, adding: "The South African Constitution is essentially a product of the ANC."

    In spite of having a two-thirds majority, he said, "we are not going to, because it is our constitution."

    Speaking about his axed deputy president Jacob Zumam, Mbeki said that he had no regrets in hindsight on how he dealt with firing his deputy Jacob Zuma.

    "I explained in parliament the reason for the way we acted. there is nothing to add or subtract from that explanation," he said.

    He noted that calls such as "Jacob Zuma for President" at the party's recent national general council were abnormal for the ANC.

    "It was important to say (to them) -- you are members of an organization and there are certain disciplines that have to be observed. Certain behavior is alien."

    Asked whether he would accept being nominated for the position if that was what members wanted, Mbeki said: "Fine ... it depends ... two-and-a-half years is a long way ahead. I might be tired by then."

    He remarked that it might be better for a younger person to fill the position, bringing in new ideas and new blood.

    Mbeki also said the ruling African National Congress should leave making the decision about whether he could lead the party for an extra term, to closer to 2007, when the party held its nextnational conference.

    Asked what was driving voices seeking for the matter to be resolved sooner, he said: "I don't know."

    He added: "Nobody (in the party) has raised it with me. I see it in the media."

    He also said it was not the ANC's way to groom anyone for the position as president of the country. The party would not do that in preparation for the end of his term in 2009.

    "When the time comes, people will say -- we trust this one to succeed. The ANC has never groomed leaders," he added.

    In the interview, Mbeki also expressed doubts that the alliancewith the South African Communist Party, the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African National Civics Organization was shaky.

    He put the existence of "natural tensions" down to different tasks and different mandates between the ANC and other alliance parties, adding: "Certainly the ANC cannot act only on the basis of what its allies say."

    The ruling party also had to consult with business, consumers and the international community, he said.

    Mbeki fobbed off any possibility of the alliance falling apart."In the labor market, all legislation introduced came out of the alliance. I am certain workers would say that the party that has advanced their interests is the ANC. Enditem