Article: Arms deal tests South Africa's ruling party integrity: Hearings began this week into a $5.5 billion deal with European armsmakers.(World)

Byline: Nicole Itano Special to the Christian Science Monitor

PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA -- An investigation into a $5.5 billion arms scandal that's shaking the ruling party here began this week in a tiny eighth-floor room of a Pretoria military building.

It's a decidedly unglamorous venue for what is becoming one of the most serious challenges faced by the government since the country's first universal elections swept African National Congress (ANC) to power in 1994. And how the ANC handles the allegations is considered a kind of integrity test of the party, the media, and the judicial system.

"The stakes are very, very high," says Gavin ...

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