OWN CORRESPONDENT, Durban | Tuesday 11.30PM.
SOUTH Africa has urged nations of the Non-Aligned Movement to pass anti-mercenary laws in a bid to outlaw international mercenaries from operating within and from member countries.
The proposal is contained in an amendment to a draft resolution on mercenaries to be debated by foreign ministers on Tuesday, ahead of endorsement by NAM heads of state later this week.
The South African proposal was made during a meeting of NAM’s political committee on Tuesday in a bid to beef up a resolution condemning the practice of recruiting, financing, training, using or supporting mercenaries.
Meanwhile foreign ministers worked behind closed doors on Tuesday to finalise the wording of a communique to be adopted by the heads of state. Drafting of the document, which deals with political, social and economic issues, began after NAM’s last summit in Colombia three years ago.
By late on Tuesday ministers had reached a level of consensus on most issues, with only the question of nuclear disarmament remaining a major sticking point.
Deputy President Thabo Mbeki held discussions with Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee in an attempt to diffuse tensions over nuclear testing between India and Pakistan. South Africa is reportedly refusing to endorse India’s call on NAM to declare it a nuclear power.
President Nelson Mandela spent four hours in a series of meetings with heads of state arriving for the summit, including with Organisation of African Unity secretary-general Salim Ahmed Salim, who is here for a mini-summit of Southern African leaders called by United Nations secretary-general Kofi Annan.