CAPE TOWN, Sept 22, 2008 (AFP) - South African Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu said Monday he was 'deeply disturbed' by the forced resignation of President Thabo Mbeki, which described as the settling of political scores.

'I am deeply disturbed by recent events in our beloved country,' said the Nobel Peace prize laureate.

'The so-called recalling of the President of our land fits the pattern of settling of scores and the throwing about of weight that has happened post-Polokwane,' Tutu said in Cape Town.

He was referring to the ANC's Polokwane conference in December in which Mbeki was toppled as party chief by his rival Jacob Zuma in an acrimonious battle that divided the former liberation movement.

'Our country deserves better. The way of retribution leads to a banana republic,' said the veteran anti-apartheid activist.

'I am deeply disturbed that the nation ... has been subordinated to a political party,' he added.

'South African belongs to all who live in it, not to any political formation, however powerful.'

Mbeki announced his resignation in a live televised address on Sunday night, after the ANC called him to step down in the interest of party unity.

The ANC has nominated the party's deputy president Kgalema Motlanthe to take over as president until the next election in seven months time.