California IN BRIEF : SACRAMENTO : Senate Praises Mandela on Release

The state Senate passed a resolution Friday congratulating Nelson Mandela, the South African anti-apartheid leader who was released this week after 27 years in prison. The resolution passed on a 23-6 vote, but only after an amendment to condemn the violence that Mandela’s movement has sparked failed 15-16. The condemnation call came from Sen. John Doolittle (R-Rocklin), and drew sharp criticism from more moderate senators, who labeled him a hypocrite and ill-intentioned. Doolittle blamed the African National Congress for a 1983 car bombing that killed 19 people and for periodic torture deaths of civilians.