Pretoria, 04 Feb-(ANA)-A high court in South Africa has postponed the corruption trial hearing for ruling African National Congress leader Jacob Zuma until 25 August.
Outside the Pietermaritzburg court, Mr Zuma told thousands of supporters if he quit it would be like admitting guilt.
The ANC leader is favourite to become president after general elections expected between March and July.
Correspondents say it means he may emerge from the polls with a criminal prosecution hanging over his head.
But if he wins a separate challenge to the case in South Africa's highest court - the charges will be dropped.
The ANC insists that Mr Zuma's right to a fair trial has been severely infringed.
The party says it is not in the public interest for the prosecution of Mr Zuma to proceed.
Mr Zuma denies the 16 charges of corruption, money-laundering and racketeering which stem from a controversial $5bn (£3.4bn) arms deal in 1999.
He has remained popular despite the shadow of corruption has been hanging over him for several years.
In 2005, Mr Zuma was sacked as South Africa's deputy president when his financial adviser, Schabir Shaik, was found guilty of soliciting a bribe on behalf of Mr Zuma and jailed for 15 years in connection with the arms deal.
Mr Zuma then went on trial, but that case collapsed in 2006 when the prosecution said it was not ready to proceed. (ANA)
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