S. Africa Police Round Up Neo-Nazi Leadership

Police arrested 10 white extremist leaders Tuesday in raids certain to enrage rightists, who are already threatening violence against government power-sharing with blacks.

Among those arrested on charges of public violence was Eugene TerreBlanche, head of the Afrikaner Resistance Movement, who is considered South Africa’s most militant right-wing leader.

He and nine associates in the neo-Nazi group were released on bail of up to $36, and a court date was set for March 9.

The 10 men were arrested at their homes in pre-dawn raids reminiscent of sweeps in black townships during the state of emergency that ended in 1990.

Police Col. Johan Mostert told state-run television that the 10 men arrested constitute the movement’s central leadership. In recent weeks, police have arrested more than 10 other members of right-wing groups on suspicion of bombing schools and post offices to protest President Frederik W. de Klerk’s reforms. Many observers think the bombings are likely to increase if De Klerk pushes ahead with his promise to end apartheid and share power with the country’s 30 million blacks.

The arrests Tuesday stemmed from an Aug. 9 clash between police and thousands of Afrikaner Resistance Movement members protesting outside a hall where De Klerk was speaking. Two movement members were shot to death by police and a third died when a car accidentally careened into the crowd. It was the first time police had used extensive force against right-wing whites.