RULING PARTY WINS IN MALI The ruling Alliance for Democracy in Mali (Adema), according to returns from 50 of the 55 electoral districts, has won 110 of the 147 legislative seats in the national elections held on Sunday. The elections were boycotted by most opposition parties. Adema won all the districts in the capital Bamako.
MANDELA MET EAST TIMOR REBELS NELSON MANDELA quietly met with Xanana Gusmao, jailed leader of the East Timor rebels, while in Indonesia, his office has revealed. The meeting, given approval by Indonesian President Suharto, has astonished experts on the conflict, who note that it will increase the prestige of the rebels. It appears that after Mandela made the request, Suharto, who relies on Mandela for his own prestige, had no option but to agree. Mandela, often criticised for his “soft” line on Indonesia, hopes to persuade the two sides to follow South African-style negotiations. East Timor was annexed from the Portuguese by the Indonesians in 1975 and declared a province. The annexation has never been recognised by the United Nations.
WRONGLY JAILED TRIO MUST WAIT THREE former ANC guerrillas, jailed for murders the PAC has confessed to in an amnesty application, could wait another year before they are freed. The Truth Commission cannot order their release, and the State President can only give clemency — hardly appropriate in a case of innocence. The mens’ lawyers will have to wait for the Truth Commission amnesty hearing, then ask the Appeal Court to reopen the case — which will prove slow and expensive.
NAMIBIA TORTURE CHARGES NAMIBIAN prisoners have laid 16 torture charges against police in the far north of the country. Five policemen are implicated in all the cases. The charges follow a visit by the attorney general to Oshakati prison, where he was told of cases of sjambok beatings and electric shock torture. He ordered a full inquiry.
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