Johannesburg - One of the leaders of South Africa's new political party on Tuesday ruled out joining forces with other opposition parties to give the ruling African National Congress (ANC) a real run for its money in next year's general election.

Mbhazima Shilowa, convener-in-chief of the Congress of the People (COPE), said the party formed by a group of senior former ANC members that were close to ousted ex-president Thabo Mbeki, was "going to the election alone to test our strength."

But COPE "will cooperate with all political parties" on an issue by issue basis, he said.

COPE will be formally launched on December 16, a year to the date after the start of the landmark ANC leadership conference that saw Mbeki deposed as party leader by former deputy president Jacob Zuma.

The conference cemented the split in the party between Mbeki and Zuma factions, which culminated in Mbeki's ouster as state president nine months later.

That decision, which Shilowa called a "coup," triggered the move by disgruntled party members, led by former ANC chairman Mosiuoa Lekota and Shilowa, to form a rival party.

The ANC has been rattled by COPE, which, although given little hope of defeating the hegemonic ex-liberation movement, threatens to dent the party's more-than-two-thirds majority in parliament.

In signs of panic, ANC youth members have tried to break up COPE meetings and threatened its leaders with violence. Zuma and other senior leaders have also disparaged COPE as a "wealthy" bunch of "snakes" and "dogs".

Shilowa assured COPE, which appears to be popular mainly in Western Cape province, a traditional opposition stronghold, included in its ranks many "who don't know where their next meal is going to come from."

COPE has yet to unveil its policies, but has made increased political accountability a priority.

If elected, COPE says, it will change the constitution to allow for the direct election of the president, provincial premier and mayors. The ANC, as the ruling party, currently fills those posts. Politicians that run afoul of the party leadership are soon replaced.

On other issues, the party's position, sounds close to that of the ANC's mix of pro-growth and pro-poor policies.

Almost admitting as much, Shilowa said: "The problem is not policy. The problem is implementation of the policy." (dpa)