Cleared Zuma apologises to country

Former South African Deputy President Jacob Zuma, speaking to reporters a day after being acquitted of rape, apologised today for having unprotected sex with an HIV-positive woman, but denied he had harmed South Africa’s Aids prevention program.

Zuma was acquitted Monday of raping a 31-year-old HIV-positive Aids activist and family friend at his Johannesburg home last November. His testimony during the trial about having unprotected consensual sex with the woman brought him a scolding from the judge, raised questions about his judgment and angered Aids activists who said he set a terrible example and demonstrated a shocking ignorance about how the virus that causes Aids is transmitted.