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		</div><p>South Africa&#8217;s parliament descended into chaos as opposition politicians denounced President Jacob Zuma as a &#8220;scoundrel&#8221; and &#8220;rotten to the core&#8221; because of corruption allegations and then brawled with guards who dragged them out of the chamber.</p>
<p>The raucous scenes unfolded on national television as opposition politicians tried to stop Mr Zuma from addressing the chamber, repeatedly insulting the president and declaring him unfit for office.<br />
In the surrounding streets of Cape Town, police and hundreds of military forces patrolled to guard against protesters who want President Zuma to quit.</p>
<p>Security teams eventually were called into the chamber to remove red-clad members of the opposition Economic Freedom Fighters, some of whom threw punches and pounded guards with plastic helmets.</p>
<p>Politicians from the Democratic Alliance, the country&#8217;s biggest opposition group, then walked out in protest. Some members of the ruling African National Congress party heckled them as they left.</p>
<p>&#8220;Out. Out,&#8221; they shouted.</p>
<p>&#8220;Finally,&#8221; said a laughing Mr Zuma, who then started an annual address on the economy and other national matters.</p>
<p>A politically weakened figure, President Zuma has faced calls to resign even from factions of the ruling party.</p>
<p>Some ANC members blame Mr Zuma&#8217;s scandals for the party&#8217;s poor performance in local elections in August, in which it lost control of several key metropolitan areas.</p>
<p>Critics condemned an announcement by President Zuma&#8217;s office that 441 members of the military would assist police in maintaining order during the speech and the opening of parliament.</p>
<p>The military has previously deployed for the event, but the security operation was among the largest in recent years.</p>
<p>While at least one group of protesters scuffled with police who blocked their path, the streets were mostly calm before the speech, in contrast to the events later in parliament.</p>
<p>Mr Zuma is &#8220;rotten to the core&#8221;, said Julius Malema, leader of the EFF.</p>
<p>Other opposition legislators described the president as a &#8220;scoundrel&#8221; and a &#8220;constitutional delinquent&#8221;.<br />
Earlier, police near parliament used stun grenades to disperse ruling party members and opposition groups who were fighting.</p>
<p>The hours leading up to Mr Zuma&#8217;s speech featured the pomp associated with the annual opening of parliament, when dignitaries walk on a red carpet and pose for cameras in an impromptu fashion show.</p>
<p>President Zuma has been under scrutiny for an allegedly improper relationship with the Guptas, a business family of Indian immigrants that has been accused of meddling in top government appointments.</p>
<p>The president has denied wrongdoing.</p>
<p>Mr Zuma, who took office in 2009, also reimbursed the state more than $500,000 in a scandal over upgrades to his private home.</p>
<p>The president&#8217;s speech addressed numerous sources of frustration for many South Africans, including the delivery of basic services and an economy that has stalled.</p>
<p>He said he expects 1.3% growth in 2017, after just 0.5% last year.<br />
AP</p>
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