Mauritian PM won't be aiding Zuma

Ramgoolam says he will not assist ANC President Jacob Zuma

Mauritian Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam says he'll not assist ANC President Jacob Zuma in his case which is before the Mauritian court. Ramgoolam says the move would undermine the independence of the judiciary in his country.

Zuma is fighting to stop the Mauritian Attorney-General from handing over seized documents to the National Prosecuting Authority. The Prime Minister, who met with Zuma last month, denies that Zuma had asked him to intervene in the case.

Meanwhile the National Directorate of Public Prosecutions says Zuma is using delaying tactics in order to avoid his corruption trial. The State says it believes it has a good chance of prosecuting Zuma.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) expressed frustration at what it called "pre-trial skirmishes" to avoid the real issue - the corruption trial. State advocate Wim Trengrove told the court that this was just another attempt to delay justice.

He said the State was convinced of its case. However, the judges were concerned about whether the NPA had followed procedure, and whether rights had been violated. Trengrove argued that the warrants were not vague and were upheld by the Supreme Court of Appeal.

Trengrove denied that searches on Zuma's lawyer disregarded legal privilege. The NPA has consistently defended its modus operandi. Judgment on the validity of the warrants was reserved.

The Constitutional Court will hear argument challenging a letter of request to access the infamous Thint diary.