WORLD : Mandela States ANC’s Provisos

Nelson Mandela said today the African National Congress will halt its armed struggle as soon as the government meets its demands for political reforms, and possibly sooner.

Mandela indicated the ANC might accept a government commitment to change, rather than insisting on the reforms being implemented before armed action ceases.

“The government must remove all the obstacles. Then we will suspend the armed struggle,” Mandela said, adding that the timing of the cease-fire is negotiable.

But Mandela also said, “As long as apartheid is the case, the armed struggle will go on.”

The ANC National Executive Committee decided at a two-day meeting that it will definitely suspend all armed activities once the obstacles have been removed, he said. He added that ANC guerrillas have not killed anyone since talks with the government began in May.