newly—formed mk party exceeded expectations to finish third. but the party says it is considering challenging the results in court. and so begins a new era in south african politics, as well as new challenges for president cyril ramaphosa, who himself helped negotiate the end of apartheid. the bbc�*s africa correspondent, barbara plett usher, reports. it had been a slow and steady day, and then...this. the former president, now the head of the upstart mk party, an unexpected challenge to the anc. already reeling from voter anger over economic mismanagement and corruption scandals. jacob zuma has created quite a stir here. he's made a rock star entrance. his party came third, with an unexpectedly strong showing, taking a lot of votes away from the anc... ..and still trying to take more. he announced he had evidence of election rigging, said he was considering a demand for a full revote. the results aren't official yet, but they're clear. the anc has lost the outright majority it held for 30 years, the most dramatic political shift since the end of apartheid. this is uncharted territory. we ask for all electoral stakeholders to please remain calm, for leaders to lead this nation at this time and for voices of reason to continue to prevail. the anc was born out of the struggle against apartheid, the violence of white minority rule that kept black people separate and unequal. archive: there's mr mandela. mr nelson mandela — a free man. the moment of triumph — nelson mandela released from prison, the first black president in south africa's new democracy. the downfall marked by jacob zuma. he presided over a period of rampant corruption. now he's making a comeback. understandably, i'm very disappointed. but this anc veteran says the party hasn't recovered since then. we have failed. we talk about renewal, the renewal of the anc, and it would take the form of making sure that elements who are really corrupt are removed from the organisation, and we've really failed to act decisively to do that. the anc is still the biggest party, but it needs to find partners to share power. south africa now faces weeks of turbulent coalition talks. barbara plett usher, bbc news, johannesburg. joining me live now from new york is former united states ambassador to south africa, patrick gaspard. it's great to have you on the bbc. first of all, what do you make of these nearly complete results now? we have almost 100% in. it looks likely to be a very big disappointment for the anc. it likely to be a very big disappointment for the anc. it is, is an external _ disappointment for the anc. it is, is an external reward _ disappointment for the anc. it is, is an external reward or _ disappointment for the anc. it 3 is an external reward or should moment for 62 million south africans and of course most especially for the anc that has managed to maintain their majority in an unbroken mind for three decades now —— extraordinary watershed moment. it is also a moment of reckoning. there are tens of millions of young people in that country who are called the bourne regeneration, born after 1994, after the end of apartheid, and they feel their country underwent a political transmission but not in them and i'll make one, and it feels like they are on the outside looking in full i should not say they feel as if, in reality, they have been on the outside looking in. by one measure, the world bank called south africa the most unequal society in the world, with 10% of its population holding about 70% of the country's wealth while the bottom 60% just holds 60% of assets. —— 6%. that is why the itsy estimate office majority stop what you think it's this younger generation in south africa behind a watershed moment, _ generation in south africa behind a watershed moment, as _ generation in south africa behind a watershed moment, as you - generation in south africa behind a watershed moment, as you calledl generation in south africa behind a i watershed moment, as you called it? overwhelmingly. when you have 11 million eligible voters that did not register, another 13 million who did register, another 13 million who did register but did not participate, young, and of those who did participate, provinces like kwazulu—natal, jacob zuma's new party absolutely dominated, and it's overwhelmingly in people who are disenfranchised, who feel that the anc has lost its way, has become a corrupt and is not focused on creating more broadly shared prosperity, that's driving a lot of votes in the system. when i had the privilege of serving, i observed, international election there, in 2015, it was already becoming a but in the clear that there was a downward trajectory for the anc because it was failing to deliver on essential services in the country, rolling blackouts, whites who represent 7% of the population, owned about 50% of the farm to land in the country, and there's never been any transference of assets that's created legacy wealth for black south africans and education, vocational training, opportunities to get a toehold in the middle class have been just faded.— have been 'ust faded. looking forward, have beenjust faded. looking forward. the _ have beenjust faded. looking forward, the anc _ have beenjust faded. looking forward, the anc will - have beenjust faded. looking forward, the anc will be - have been just faded. looking i forward, the anc will be looking have been just faded. looking - forward, the anc will be looking for coalition partners. is there an obvious one? how will these puzzle pieces start to fit together there? jacob zuma, who just rose from the dead like a phoenix, believes that he's the obvious one, but he and his cadre have continuously said that they will not form a coalition with a roller coaster led anc. —— cyril ramaphosa led. cyril ramaphosa is the current president. he was former zuma's deputy, they are sworn enemies, and now zuma gets to play kingmaker at -- if the anc —— if the anc goes into coalition with his own party for i expect a national unity coalition cobbled together from several smaller parties, 50 plus one, that enables the anc to continue into govern. but the anc to continue into govern. but the challenges are going to profound at the local level. the economic centre of the country, has johannesburg, that city, because of all this volatility, has had close to a dozen mayors over the past two years, party infighting, said economic strains are profound... let me 'ust economic strains are profound... let me just ask you, ambassador, because you have laid out many of the problems we have seen in south africa in the anc. there will be new blood in this government. what will that do? and you think that will be able to address some of these problems? you mentioned corruption and lack of electricity and water and lack of electricity and water and high under plumbing as well as popular yet, there is free intermediate south africa,... i intermediate south africa,... 1 should command south intermediate south africa,... i should command south africa... it is an ocean that went off basically without a hitch without a sense that avril was not being included, that is not always the case on the continent and in the region, so that's a commendable thing. i believe as somebody who just loves that country there is not anything wrong without africa, that we have to cure it, with... their enterprising and people and reformers within the anc and other political parties who i think will set the government right again. it focused on economic disparities in that country. we focused on economic disparities in that country-— that country. we will see how this shakes out- _ that country. we will see how this shakes out. we _ that country. we will see how this shakes out. we are _ that country. we will see how this shakes out. we are expecting - that country. we will see how this shakes out. we are expecting the | shakes out. we are expecting the official results to be announced on sunday. patrick gaspard, former ambassador to south africa, thank you very much. ambassador to south africa, thank you very much-— two key right—wing figures in israel's government are threatening to leave their posts if prime minister benjamin netanyahu agrees to an israeli peace proposal announced by president biden. israel's national security minister, itamar ben—gvir, says any deal that results in a ceasefire before hamas is destroyed will be a victory for terrorism. israel's finance minister also opposes any truce before hamas is wiped out. the peace proposals are backed by the israeli opposition and mediating countries. hamas reacted positively to the plans. the united states, egypt, and qatar released a joint statement on saturday urging the two sides to reach an agreement. the uk's foreign secretary, lord cameron, told the bbc his thoughts on the deal. i think what the deal contains is a staged process for the release of hostages in the first phase and a pause in the fighting, and then it goes on to a second stage with a longer pause, with more israeli withdrawals and the release of further hostages, then going on to a third stage, hopefully without any return to fighting, when you get on to the rebuilding of gaza. now, of course, all these plans are incredibly difficult to put in place. but fundamentally why i think this is a moment we should seize to try and bring this conflict to an end permanently is that, you know, it's one thing to call for a ceasefire, but of course, if you can't put in place the conditions that make a ceasefire sustainable, then it won't last. and this is an attempt to start to put those conditions in place, because we all know you've got to look at issues of israeli security and issues of palestinian statehood alongside each other in order to make a deal last and to solve this problem. our north america correspondent will vernon has the latest on washington's push towards an agreement. what you've got here is a tricky situation for president biden. we heard him yesterday in a pretty optimistic white house address, saying it is time for this war to end and for the day after to begin, setting out that three—stage peace proposal. quite grand words he used. mr biden is desperately hoping israel and hamas will sign up to that plan. mr biden in that address essentially tried to draw a line under the conflict, saying to the israelis, you have achieved your main objective here, hamas is no longer in any kind of state to launch the sort of attack we saw on october 7 last year. but in comments on saturday, benjamin not who took some of the shine off that biden announcement. —— benjamin netanyahu. he reiterated the israeli war would not end until the complete destruction of hamas and all its capabilities. although mr biden said this was an israeli proposal, itake although mr biden said this was an israeli proposal, i take the white house nevertheless be working now on a strategy to put more pressure on the israelis to accept this deal, and on hamas as well, of course, and thatis and on hamas as well, of course, and that is why you have seen this flurry of diplomatic activity. phone calls between us secretary of state antony blinken and all the major key players in the region. there was also a joint agreement between the us, egypt and qatar. joining me to discuss is lt general mark schwartz, former us security coordinator of the israel—palestinian authority. we heard there these really far right government partners now threatening to leave the coalition, essentially topple netanyahu cosmic government if this deal goes through. how conflicted do you think the government is over this proposal? i the government is over this proposal?— the government is over this ro osal? ~' , .., . proposal? i think there is conflict inside of the _ proposal? i think there is conflict inside of the government - proposal? i think there is conflict inside of the government and - proposal? i think there is conflict i inside of the government and their certain confliction inside of the israeli populace. as the elements of this current proposal were rolled out, by our president in the united states and the more broadly in the international community, if you are the families of the hostages of the hostages themselves, if you're hamas and if you're the palestinians having insight of gaza, you are very pleased with the plan, but in terms of the right direction for immediate and long—term security, for the israeli people, it falls well short, because there's no discussion, at least in the plan, about, other than a statement that those responsible for october the 7th, israel still has the right to pursue those and bring them to justice, that implies their intelligence services and special operations forces continuing to pursue. but there is a major security gap that will be created by the withdrawal of israeli forces with no security replacement inside of gaza, starting with the major urban centres and then ultimately, if you go to phase two, where you see the withdrawal of forces. i can certainly appreciate the concern expressed by those within the israeli populace and even here in our own country, in terms of, if the us is saying hamas is an international terrorist organisation, since the early 90s, certainly, you... organisation, since the early 90s, certainly. you---— certainly, you... you heard president _ certainly, you... you heard president biden _ certainly, you... you heard president biden saying - certainly, you... you heard i president biden saying briefly certainly, you... you heard - president biden saying briefly to israel and messaging towards netanyahu, essentially, look, he does not believe that hamas still is a trip to israel, he made a big speech laying out this proposal. how much leverage do you think the white house has over this process right now? i house has over this process right now? ~ . ., , house has over this process right now? ~ . . , ., ., , now? i think certainly, what was said during _ now? i think certainly, what was said during the _ now? i think certainly, what was said during the announcement i now? i think certainly, what was | said during the announcement of now? i think certainly, what was - said during the announcement of this proposal, it's speaking to the us the mystic audience, certainly, given the inside the united states more broadly the leadership role that many constituencies in us want to see the administration take in ending the humanitarian suffering and the really uncalled for civilian casualties in gaza, and ifully appreciate that, but i don't think we should be in the position of assessing the security environment for another country, assessing the security environment foranother country, in assessing the security environment for another country, in my view. so i don't think that's really appropriate, given the nature of what happen october seven, and we are seeing, certainly, since the conflict started, the offensive by israel into gaza, they still have a significant capability to launch long—range munitions into israel and have the ability to fight the idf inside of gaza, so... it is have the ability to fight the idf inside of gaza, so. . .— have the ability to fight the idf inside of gaza, so... it is not 'ust the united — inside of gaza, so... it is not 'ust the united states i inside of gaza, so... it is not 'ust the united states pushing h inside of gaza, so... it is notjust the united states pushing for - inside of gaza, so... it is notjust. the united states pushing for this. we just heard from uk the united states pushing for this. wejust heard from uk foreign minister cameron there, other arab nations, pushing for this, there seems to be a lot of international pressure now, maybe the highest we have seen to try to end this war with this deal.— have seen to try to end this war with this deal. agree. i think it is important- _ with this deal. agree. i think it is important. again, _ with this deal. agree. i think it is important. again, the _ with this deal. agree. i think it is important. again, the amount i with this deal. agree. i think it is important. again, the amount of| important. again, the amount of suffering we have seen of the palestinian population, inside of gaza, is extremely concerning, the military and crisis that, frankly, israel is responsible for addressing —— humanitarian crisis. as the force that conducted the subsequent invasion. i understand international call for a cease—fire, and certainly the release of the hostages, absolutely, the innocence on both sides that are being caught up in this conflict, but it does not comport with the strategic end state, which is to a limited hamas's military capability in the governing body inside of gaza.— body inside of gaza. very, very briefl , i body inside of gaza. very, very briefly, i want _ body inside of gaza. very, very briefly, i want to _ body inside of gaza. very, very briefly, i want to ask _ body inside of gaza. very, very briefly, i want to ask you, - briefly, i want to ask you, the details of the deal and the response of either side, how optimistic are you this actually gets done? hat you this actually gets done? not ve you this actually gets done? ijrrt very optimistic. i think that there is potential for a temporary cease—fire, for an initial exchange. 700 palestinian prisoners for some of the hostages to be released, which would be superb also but i think the long—term, phase two and three, i think have a very unlikely chance of materialising. lieutenant general mark— chance of materialising. lieutenant general mark schwartz, _ chance of materialising. lieutenant general mark schwartz, thank - chance of materialising. lieutenant general mark schwartz, thank you | general mark schwartz, thank you very much. general mark schwartz, thank you very much-— after weeks of voting, polls have now closed in the last phase of india's general election — the biggest the world has ever seen. the final stage of balloting took place in eight northern and eastern states during a severe heatwave. at least 30 people have died of heat stroke. water and fans were provided at some polling stations to cool voters. results are expected to be announced on the 4th ofjune. for more on what happens next, our south asia correspondent samira hussain sent this report. what happens now is that we're slowly starting to see exit polls coming out. these are various analysts and media organisations that have paid to have these exit polls done. now, you don't really get an inkling ofjust how things are going throughout the indian election over the six weeks. now that all phases of voting ended, we're starting to see some of those being trickled out. really, when it comes down to the actual, real results, well, that still doesn't happen until the 4th ofjune. that's when all the vote—counting will take place. and because voting was done primarily by electronic voting machines, the process should be fairly easy — or fairly quick, rather — and they will start counting early in the morning. and by early afternoon, we should have an indication of which direction the country is going. we're talking about almost 970 million people that were eligible to vote in these elections, and that's why they went on for so long. in order to organise and have enough manpower to get all of those people to be able to cast a ballot, that's why you have elections over seven phases. a lawyer for donald trump has told the bbc nothing will change in the former us president's run for the white house, despite his criminal conviction. mr trump was found guilty on thursday of falsifying business records, to conceal hush money payments made to the former adult film star stormy daniels in 2016. mr trump has denounced the verdict and claims the trial was "rigged". his defence team plans to appeal. despite his mounti