The World - News from April 27, 1989

South African-led security forces in northern Namibia freed captured guerrillas and withdrew to their bases so remaining rebels could return unhindered to neighboring Angola. The agreement for the 60-hour South African confinement to bases cleared the way for guerrillas of the South-West Africa People’s Organization (SWAPO) to pull out and is intended to put a U.N. independence plan for the country back on track. The plan came close to collapse when fighting broke out April 1 as about 1,600 guerrillas crossed from Angola into the territory, in violation of the U.N. plan. There are 500 to 600 SWAPO fighters still thought to be in the country.