President Thabo Mbeki on Monday pulled out, at the 11th hour, from an official appointment that could have brought him political embarrassment.

Mbeki was scheduled to attend a board meeting of DaimlerChrysler, a company linked to the controversial arms deal and which has been tied to allegations of kickbacks involving African National Congress chief whip Tony Yengeni.

Mbeki was scheduled to attend the meeting along with former United States president George Bush.

Mbeki's spokesperson, Bheki Khumalo, said: "The president was a special guest. That's about all there is to it."

He said Mbeki's schedule did not leave time for him to attend the meeting on Monday night.

Mbeki visited Northern Province where the ANC leadership faces a battle for survival following the national executive committee's disbandment of the provincial executive committee. 

With acknowledgment to Independent Online.