THE African National Congress on Thursday rejected charges that its members are planning to kill leaders of the Inkatha Freedom Party ahead of the looming general elections. IFP leader Mangosuthu Butheleziclaimed on Wednesday that the ANC is arming its supporters in KwaZulu-Natal and planns to assassinate IFP leaders before the poll, due in May. Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism Pallo Jordan, an ANC stalwart, said on Wednesday: “At no time has the ANC ever been involved in any conspiracy to assassinate leaders of the IFP.” Jordan also defended suspended foreign affairs official Robert McBride, whom Buthelezi accused of owning the security company he alleged is distributing weapons to ANC supporters. “As far as we know, Robert McBride is a member of the ANC and I would seriously doubt that he would get involved in any conspiracy of this nature,” Jordan said.