LYON (France), Jan 13: Interpol announced on Sunday the resignation of its president Jackie Selebi, South Africa's chief of police who has been placed on extended leave on suspicion of corruption.

“The general secretariat of Interpol today received a letter from Jackie Selebi ... confirming his resignation with immediate effect,” the international police agency said in a statement.

“Mr Selebi's decision was taken in the interests of Interpol.” South African President Thabo Mbeki on Saturday ordered Selebi to take an indefinite leave of absence in view of his possible prosecution on charges of taking money from a businessman accused of murder.

On Friday, the national prosecuting authority (NPA) said it would charge Selebi over his links to businessman Glenn Agliotti, who has been charged over the 2005 murder of mining magnate Brett Kebble.

At a hearing at the Pretoria high court on Friday, Selebi failed in a bid to have the prosecution halted.

The NPA say Agliotti, whom Selebi acknowledges as a long-time friend, paid him more than 1.2 million rand ($175,000) over an 18-month period in 2004 and 2005.

According to acting NPA head Mokotedi Mpshe, prosecutors also have evidence to show Selebi tipped off Agliotti that detectives investigating Kebble's murder had unearthed phone records showing that Agliotti made a phone call from the scene of the killing.Mbeki said Selebi agreed that his continued presence at his desk would be a distraction until the law “takes its course,” and he had consequently stood down.—AFP