United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa has called on Speaker Baleka Mbete to spell out the procedure to be followed should Parliament seek to remove President Thabo Mbeki from office.

In an open letter to Mbete on Monday, Holomisa said his party had noted media reports of "extensive speculation by senior members of the ANC" that Parliament might decide Mbeki's future.

"There is even talk of a vote of no confidence, based on Judge [Chris] Nicholson's ruling this past Friday on the matter of Mr Jacob Zuma's prosecution.

"While we understand that in your capacity as ANC chairperson you have a right to address your party members, the media has inferred imminent parliamentary action against the president... based on the comments you and other ANC leaders have reportedly made.

"If indeed such a possibility exists — of parliamentary action against the president — we would like to know from the outset what the procedures will be. Please indicate, at your earliest convenience, the proposed parliamentary rules and intended process that will be followed."

The letter makes clear the UDM will not support a move to remove Mbeki from office.

Holomisa said if Parliament intended to act against Mbeki, it might need to appoint a body to determine what Judge Nicholson's inferences of political interference in prosecutorial decisions meant.

"Does it constitute a crisis? Or is a constitutional crisis being forced where none actually exists?

"Can we plunge the whole country into a new crisis by removing the president while there is still no clarity about the guilt or innocence of Mr Zuma, who is being touted as the next president?

"What would it say of our country if we replaced a president in this manner? The judge did not make a ruling against the president as far as we know; indeed, the president or members of the executive were not respondents in the matter."

Holomisa said the UDM would not support a decision to oust a sitting president and his executive "on the basis of inferences by a judge and without that president receiving a chance to answer the accusations".

Sapa