De Klerk Urges S. Africa Talks to Halt Violence

President Frederik W. de Klerk called Wednesday for urgent talks with Nelson Mandela to halt spiraling violence, warning that reform efforts cannot continue until the bloodshed ends.

But De Klerk also lashed out at Mandela’s African National Congress, contending that Communists in its leadership are trying to ruin the reform process with violent protests.

“It is simply not possible to negotiate constitutional issues before the question of violence has been dealt with satisfactorily,” De Klerk said at a news conference in Pretoria.

South Africa’s political crisis deepened after 28 ANC protesters were killed Monday when troops in the Ciskei black homeland fired on marchers calling for the removal of homeland ruler Brig. Gen. Oupa Gqozo.

ANC officials met Wednesday to consider the situation. A brief statement Wednesday night said that De Klerk appeared to have offered nothing new.

In June, the ANC pulled out of constitutional talks aimed at ending white-minority rule, but it has continued private contacts with the government.

New violence flared Wednesday in Ciskei when youths attacked and burned the homes of security force personnel. Homeland troops conducted door-to-door searches, beating youths suspected of taking part in the ANC march, witnesses said.

Gqozo maintained that the ANC deliberately provoked the confrontation with his forces Monday and warned that there could be more violence.