Former deputy president Jacob Zuma said on Tuesday he would accept nomination for the ruling party's presidency in December because not to do so would be tantamount to admitting he was guilty of corruption.

"Why should I find myself guilty, when I've not been found by any court guilty?" Zuma said when asked if he would turn down a nomination when the ruling African National Congress (ANC) meets in December to select its next leaders.

"I'm innocent .... (and) if I did that, I'll be saying I'm guilty, even before the court says so. It will be totally wrong. It will be unconstitutional," Zuma told the Cape Town Press Club in response to a question. The victor in the ANC's leadership race is likely to succeed President Thabo Mbeki when he steps down in 2009.

Zuma, once seen as a front-runner to succeed Mbeki, saw his political fortunes dim after he was fired following a corruption scandal involving his former financial adviser Schabir Shaik.

Zuma was later charged with corruption but the case was thrown out of court - although prosecutors say they may seek to file new charges at any time.

In public Zuma has been cagey about his political aspirations, denying he is campaigning for the presidency and saying it is up to ANC members to decide their next leaders.

But political analysts say he is working hard to drum up support, and Tuesday's statement was one of the clearest to date that he was firmly in the race.

Zuma declined to speak on the corruption case on Tuesday, but has repeatedly maintained his innocence and says the allegations against him are part of a shadowy plot to thwart his political career.

The ANC has battled sharp internal divisions over the Zuma affair and the current leadership race, which analysts say is likely to pit Zuma's more left-wing allies against a centrist bloc of Mbeki supporters.

Mbeki has left open the possibility that, while he is constitutionally bound to step down as state president after two terms, he may decide to stand for another term as leader of the party - a move which could block Zuma's chances.

Zuma on Tuesday sought to play down media reports of friction between the two.

"Comrade Mbeki is my comrade, more than a comrade, a friend of mine," said Zuma, suggesting that speculation about animosity between the ruling party's top two was the work of sensation-seeking media.

With acknowledgements to Reuters and Independent Online.