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Bush Assures Tutu of His ‘Abhorrence’ of Apartheid

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From Associated Press

President Bush, stressing his “abhorrence of apartheid,” today pledged American pressure to bring about “justice and equality” in South Africa, his spokesman said.

The President, after meeting with Nobel Peace Prize laureate Desmond Tutu, invited Albertina Sisulu, one of the leaders of the United Democatic Front in South Africa, to visit the United States, White House spokesman Marlin Fitzwater said.

“The President shares the archbishop’s abhorrence of apartheid,” Fitzwater said. “The President promised to stress his opposition in every way possible. The Administration will be looking at ways to best use American pressure, influence and leverage to bring about justice and equality to South Africa.”

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Tutu, who heads the Anglican Church in South Africa, said he urged Bush to “take the moral leadership” toward ending his country’s apartheid policies of racial separation and said he was encouraged that Bush had a “warm openness” to that cause.

“We do not want to be overly optimistic,” Tutu told reporters, adding that he had been impressed that Bush appeared to genuinely abhor apartheid, that he wanted to be “a catalyst for change” and “a positive influence.”

Tutu did not disclose the specifics of the conversation. But he indicated that he did not ask for specific initiatives other than that Bush urge Pretoria to negotiate with its opposition.

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