10-Hour London Concert Honors Jailed S. African Activist : Mandela’s Release Urged in a Message of Rock Music

Tens of thousands of dancing, clapping and banner-waving fans attended a 10-hour rock concert Saturday honoring Nelson Mandela and calling on South Africa to release the black activist from prison before his 70th birthday next month.

Entertainer Harry Belafonte, a veteran anti-apartheid campaigner, had a brief message for Mandela, jailed for life in 1964.

Speaking to the estimated 70,000 people at London’s Wembley Stadium, Belafonte called the jailed African National Congress leader a symbol of South Africa’s “cruel and unjust system of apartheid.”

“We want to see you and your fellow political prisoners freed,” Belafonte said. Cheers and a chorus of “Happy Birthday” rose from the mostly youthful throng.

Buthelezi Adds Plea

In South Africa, at a rally near Durban that coincided with the all-day Wembley concert, Zulu Chief Mangosuthu Gatsha Buthelezi again pleaded with the government to free Mandela.

“Black South Africa will not rest until he is free,” Buthelezi told a prayer gathering of thousands of mainly youthful followers.

Buthelezi, the founder of the predominantly Zula Inkatha political movement, opposes foreign sanctions and the ANC’s guerrilla campaign as means to end apartheid. He has argued that Mandela would be a moderating force for reconciliation among blacks if released.

Organizers in London said the event--which will continue today with a rally in Glasgow, Scotland, where thousands are expected to take part--was a worldwide appeal for Mandela to be released before his birthday July 18.

Mandela, who was jailed for treason 24 years ago while he was leader of the ANC guerrilla movement fighting for majority rule in the white-led country, had been told about the concert by his wife, Winnie, according to his lawyer.

‘Set Them Free’

British rock star Sting opened the London concert singing the words “Free, free, set them free.” Other performers included Stevie Wonder, the Eurythmics, Joe Cocker, the Bee Gees and Whitney Houston.

The event, entitled “Nelson Mandela: Freedom at 70,” was broadcast live in Britain by the British Broadcasting Corp., with rights sold to 60 countries, including the United States.

The BBC broadcast stirred controversy in Britain, where Conservative members of Parliament joined Pretoria in protesting the coverage, saying the BBC was breaching its code of impartiality by giving publicity to the ANC.

“This is totally in breach of their charter, and they are giving air time to organizations that will maim and kill innocent people in South Africa,” said John Carlisle, a member of Parliament and chairman of the British-South African parliamentary group.

The BBC, the organizers and ANC leader Oliver Tambo have said all of the money raised will go to Britain’s Anti-Apartheid Movement and seven charity groups helping children in South Africa.

The concert came a day after the South African government announced it was extending the two-year-old state of emergency and tightened curbs on the press.