The World - News from Feb. 19, 1989

The head of the U.N. police unit that will oversee Namibia’s yearlong transition to independence from South Africa began consultations with local police commanders. The Namibian police force, which includes many white South African officers, will be responsible for civil order during the transition period, which begins April 1, but will be supervised by 500 U.N. police officers. under the command of U.N. Commissioner Steven Fanning. Fanning met with Namibia’s police commissioner, Gen. Dolf Gouws, and with Louis Peinaar, the territorial administrator appointed by South Africa, which ruled Namibia for 74 years. No details of the talks were disclosed.